Heart Disease Treatment

Coronary artery disease (or simply heart disease) is the number one killer of people in both the United States and the United Kingdom. Every year heart disease is responsible for the deaths of 13 million people in the USA and one hundred and ten thousand in the UK.

Statistics for the UK also show that coronary heart disease also accounts for 275,000 heart attacks and one and a half million people suffering with angina each year.

These figures illustrate the dilemma facing the medical profession as the numbers affected by coronary heart disease grow rapidly.

Should I take any action and seek heart disease treatment ?

Both coronary heart disease and high blood pressure are sometimes referred to as 'The Silent killers'. The reason for this is that there are no specific, visible symptoms that only occur with either medical condition and so they are not usually diagnosed until they have reached an advanced stage such as a 'heart attack'.

This is why regular medical check-ups, at least once each year, are advisable once you reach middle age. More often if you suspect that you are susceptible to coronary heart disease.

If you have any reason to feel that you may be suffering from coronary heart disease, consult your doctor and describe your symptoms. He will look at your medical history and ask you about your families medical history. He will review your lifestyle and consider a variety of health related factors such as smoking (if it is an issue), exercise, eating a healthier diet to lower blood pressure and also lower yourcholesterol levels.

Diagnostic tests

A complete physical examination is often undertaken when coronary heart disease is suspected and usually the doctor will undertake other diagnostic tests which may include but are not limited to,

- an electrocardiogram (EKG),

- cardiac catheterization,

- electron beam (ultrafast) CT scans, and

- exercise stress tests.

These tests [electrocardiogram, cardic catheterization, electron beam (ultrfast) CT scans, exercise stress tests] act as diagnostic tools to aid the doctor in determining how severe the heart disease is, its potential effects on the heart and what type of treatment is required.

Advances in technology have helped to find medical treatments to help combat the amount of people dying with this condition every year. Below is a list of lifestyle changes, non-surgical treatments and surgical treatments that can be carried out to successfully alleviate coronary heart disease.

Lifestyle Changes

Whatever stage your medical condition has reached lifestyle changes are usually introduced first and these involve decreasing the risk factors that make coronary heart disease a reality. Lifestyle changes or modifications involve reducing your intake of cholesterol, fat and salt and if you are a smoker, to stop as soon as possible.

Keeping your blood sugar under control for those who suffer from diabetes and also for everyone, keeping blood pressure to a reasonable level.

If you do not exercise on a regular basis, incorporating more exercise into your day-to-day schedule if you do not exercise on a regular basis. If you do exercise then try to do more. Exercise helps increase good “HDL” cholesterol, it also helps to maintain a weight that is healthy and reasonable for your build. Regular exercise also contributes to reducing stress levels.

Heart Disease Treatments - Non-surgical treatments and Surgical

Non-surgical

Doctors will prescribe medication when lifestyle changes are not enough . Medications for heart disease work to make the heart function to its optimum while also encouraging as much “oxygen-rich” blood as possible. There are different types of medication according to the type of heart problem.

Aspirin  - Aspirin may seem like a strange choice of treatment for coronary heart disease, but it is actually a very strong medication for use against this medical condition. Aspirin actually thins the blood so it makes it more difficult for the blood to clot in the arteries, this can dramatically reduce the risk of a heart attack.

Beta-blockers  - This medication is great for reducing a persons blood pressure and heart rate. The effect this can have on a persons body is quite astounding, because the blood pressure and heart rate have lowered, the heart will not demand so much oxygen and it will reduce the strain on the heart, which will help combat the chances of a heart attack.

Nitroglycerin  - Nitroglycerin reduces the hearts demand for oxygen and dilates the coronary arteries improving the blood flow that carries oxygen to the heart. Nitroglycerin can be administered in the short term through an oral spray, or long term through tablets and skin patches.

Surgical

In the case of the most damaged hearts, medical procedures and invasive surgery are required. The most common types of procedures include:

- coronary artery bypass surgery,

- balloon angioplasty (PTCA), and

- stent placement.

There is no known cure at present for heart disease so all of these surgical procedures serve to improve the flow of blood to the heart. At present there are experimental forms of surgical procedures that are gaining more and more attention in the medical community. These include trans myocardial laser revascularization (TMR), angiogenesis and EECP.

Coronary angioplasty  - a sturdy tube is passed through an artery found in the leg or arm and an extremely thin guide is passed through the tube all the way through the body to the coronary artery. After this has been completed a smaller tube, with a balloon on the end, is threaded through the artery in the leg or arm, over the guide, and into the coronary artery. Once in place the balloon is inflated to improve the flow of blood around the body by widening the artery.

Atherectomy  - part of the coronary disease is a build up of inflamed tissue in the artery, called plaque. When the plaque becomes more solid in texture a coronary angioplasty cannot be done so an Atherectomy has to be completed instead. During Atherectomy surgery the surgeon will remove the plaque by cutting it away with a special tool or using a special laser to burn the plaque away.

This procedure is carried out in much the same way as the Coronary angioplasty by gaining access to the coronary artery through the arm or upper leg.

Brachytherapy - there are other surgical treatments that can be carried out for Coronary heart disease like Brachytherapy, which is a type of radiation therapy where a tiny source of radiation is placed in the artery to kill the plaque tissue.

Stent - another surgery is implanting a stent, which is a small metal tube with holes into the artery to stop the artery from narrowing for a period of time.

Whatever your condition is and whatever advice and treatment you have received, it is important to visit your physician for routine follow up visits to check on your progress.

More articles to read.....

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Coronary Heart Disease - why you shouldn't ignore it!
Coronary Heart Disease Facts
What is a Coronary Angiogram ?
Heart Disease - women are more likely than men to die as a result of a heart attack
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Heart Disease - a vegetarian diet may benefit your heart
Chocolate and Heart Disease - eating chocolate is good for your heart!
High Cholesterol and Heart Disease
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