Coronary Heart Disease

Vėjūna Guzulaitytė

Vocabulary:• CHD – coronary heart disease.• Plaque – a waxy substance that builds up in coronary

arteries.• Atheroma – fatty deposits.• Atherosclerosis – condition, when plaque builds up inside

arteries.

• Coronary heart disease (CHD) is a disease in which a waxy substance called plaque builds up inside the coronary arteries. Plaque is made up of fat, cholesterol, calcium, and other substances found in the blood. Over time, plaque hardens (or ruptures) and narrows the arteries.

• When plaque builds up in the arteries, the condition is called atherosclerosis.

• If the plaque ruptures, a blood clot can form on its surface. A large blood clot can mostly or completely block blood flow through a coronary artery. Over time, ruptured plaque also hardens and narrows the coronary arteries.

• Atherosclerosis can affect any artery in the body, including arteries in the heart, brain, arms, legs, pelvis, and kidneys. As a result, different diseases may develop based on which arteries are affected.

• This condition can lead to other serious problems, including heart attack, stroke, or even death.

What causes atherosclerosis?• smoking• high cholesterol (LDL)• hypertension• diabetes• irregular exercise• obesity• family history of CHD

DiagnosticsIf your doctor feels you are at risk of CHD, they may carry out a risk assessment. Further tests may be needed to confirm a diagnosis of CHD, including:• echocardiogram• blood tests• radionuclide tests • magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans• computerised tomography (CT) scans• coronary angiography• an electrocardiogram (ECG)• an X-ray

Standards that define good heart disease care:• tackling factors that increase the risk of heart disease, such as

smoking, poor diet and little physical exercise• preventing CHD in high-risk patients and, where patients

have CHD, avoiding complications and tackling the progression of the disease

• rapid treatment for heart attack, including the choice of angioplasty in a specialist cardiac centre

• rapid diagnosis of heart disease and access to diagnostic tests• rapid access and choice of treatment centre for specialised

cardiac care

Treatment• Although coronary heart disease cannot be cured,

treatment can help manage the symptoms and reduce chances of problems such as heart attacks.

• CHD can be managed effectively with a combination of lifestyle changes, medicine and, in some cases, surgery. With the right treatment, the symptoms of CHD can be reduced and the functioning of the heart improved.

Recovery• If you have problems such as a heart attack, or have any

heart surgery, it is possible to eventually resume your normal life.

• Advice and support is available to help you deal with aspects of your life that may have been affected by CHD.

Complications• Angina is chest pain or discomfort. It may feel like pressure or

squeezing in your chest. The pain also can occur in your shoulders, arms, neck, jaw, or back. Angina pain may even feel like indigestion.

• A heart attack occurs if the flow of oxygen-rich blood to a section of heart muscle is cut off. If blood flow isn’t restored quickly, the section of heart muscle begins to die. Without quick treatment, a heart attack can lead to serious health problems or death.

• Heart failure is a condition in which your heart can't pump enough blood to meet your body’s needs.

• Arrhythmias are problems with the rate or rhythm of the heartbeat.

Prevention• balanced diet• physical activity• giving up smoking• reducing alcohol consumption• controlling blood cholesterol and sugar levels• controlling BP• taking prescribed medication

• CHD is the most common type of heart disease. In the United States, CHD is the #1 cause of death for both men and women.