Content

• Steps
• Advice
• Warning

Coronary heart disease (CHD), also known as ischemic heart disease, is the leading cause of death in the world. It is also commonly referred to as coronary artery disease (CAD) because the main cause is a blocked artery. When the heart artery is blocked, the blood flow to the organs of the body decreases, resulting in a lack of oxygen and essential nutrients. Many people are familiar with the symptoms of angina, but heart disease can manifest in many different forms. If you know the risk factors and associated symptoms of coronary artery disease, you can control or even reduce your risk of developing the disease.

Steps

Method 1 of 4: Symptom detection

1. 

   
   
   Watch for chest pain. Angina is an early sign that coronary heart disease is developing. Angina is often described as strange and inexplicable pain in the chest area. Some people report discomfort, tightness, pressure or pressure, heat, pain, numbness or fullness in the chest. The pain can spread to the neck, jaw, back, left shoulder, and left arm. Since these regions share nerve pathways, pain often spread there. Chest pain can also occur during daily activities, when you eat a lot, work too hard or are emotionally touched.
   • If coronary artery disease is the cause of chest pain, the pain is the result of too little blood flowing to the heart. This usually occurs when the demand for blood flow peaks and is therefore associated with angina and early physical activity.
   • Angina often presents with other related symptoms, including shortness of breath or shortness of breath, dizziness or palpitations, fatigue, sweating (especially cold sweat), stomach upset, and vomiting.

2. 

   
   
   Look for signs of atypical chest pain. Atypical chest pain presents with symptoms such as abdominal discomfort, shortness of breath, fatigue, dizziness, numbness, nausea, toothache, indigestion, weakness, restlessness and sweating, these symptoms may appear without the usual chest pain. Women and people with diabetes are more likely to experience symptoms of atypical chest pain.
   • Atypical chest pain also has a "unstable" frequency, meaning that it can arise at rest, not just during strenuous work, and has a high risk of heart attack.

3. 

   
   
   Monitor for difficulty breathing. Shortness of breath often occurs in the late stages of the disease. Coronary heart disease reduces the heart's ability to pump blood around the body and leads to blockage of blood vessels. If this happens in the lungs you will find it difficult to breathe.
   • Tell your doctor if you need to breathe rapidly while doing simple tasks like walking, gardening or doing chores around the house.

4. 

   Notice irregular heartbeat. It is also called the phenomenon of irregular heart rhythm is arrhythmia. This is described as the heart skipping a beat or sometimes beating faster for a while and then returning to normal. You may also feel an irregular pulse when taking a pulse. If this abnormality is accompanied by chest pain, you should go to the emergency room immediately.
   • In coronary artery disease, an arrhythmia occurs when blood flow decreases and affects the electrical impulses in the heart.
   • The most dangerous form of arrhythmias associated with coronary heart disease is sudden cardiac arrest, meaning that the heart is not beating abnormally but completely stops. This usually results in death within minutes if the heart cannot be reactivated, usually with a defibrillator.

5. 

   Note that coronary heart disease can lead to a heart attack. The worst complication of coronary heart disease is a heart attack. Patients in the late stages of the disease are at high risk for myocardial infarction. The chest pain then becomes more severe, you have difficulty breathing, you feel nauseous, restless and cold sweat a lot. You have to call an ambulance right away if you think you or a loved one is having a heart attack.
   • Sometimes a heart attack is the first sign that you have coronary heart disease. Even if you have never had symptoms of heart disease in the past, see your doctor immediately if you experience any signs of chest pain or have difficulty breathing, as it could be a sign of coronary heart disease.
   • Sometimes a heart attack occurs with atypical symptoms such as restlessness, fear of something wrong, or heaviness in the chest. Seek medical attention as soon as possible if any of the unusual symptoms appear suddenly.
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Method 2 of 4: Identify risk factors

1. 

   Consider your age. Damage and narrowing of the artery may be just because of age, people 55 and older are at higher risk. Of course, unhealthy choices such as a poor diet or inactivity that go with age also increase the risk of this disease.

2. 

   Consider gender. In general, men are more susceptible to coronary heart disease than women. However, even women are at higher risk once they reach menopause.
   • Women also often have few severe and atypical symptoms of the disease. They tend to have throbbing and hotter pain in the chest, and are prone to pain in the neck, jaw, throat, abdomen or back.If you are a woman and have unusual or painful sensations in your chest or shoulders, or if you have difficulty breathing, let your doctor know as this could be an early warning sign of coronary heart disease.

3. 

   Check family history. If you have any close family member with a history of heart disease, you have a higher risk of coronary artery disease. You are most at risk if you have a father or a brother diagnosed with heart disease before age 55, or if you have a mother or sister diagnosed before age 65.

4. 

   Consider nicotine use. Tobacco is one of the main culprits in most cases of coronary heart disease. Cigarettes contain nicotine and carbon monoxide, both of which force the heart and lungs to work harder. Other chemicals in tobacco can damage the walls of the arteries of the heart. According to studies, when you smoke, your risk of developing coronary heart disease increases by 25%.
   • Even e-cigarettes have a similar effect on the heart. Avoid all forms of nicotine use for your health.

5. 

   Check your blood pressure. Constantly high blood pressure can cause atherosclerosis, decrease blood flow and force the heart to work harder to circulate blood in the body, leading to a higher risk of coronary heart disease.
   • Normal blood pressure is between 90/60 and 120/80 mmHg. Blood pressure is not a fixed value that can change in a short time.

6. 

   For diabetics. People with diabetes have more viscous blood, so the heart has to work harder to pump blood through the body. They also have thicker atrial walls of the heart, which means the pathways in the heart are more prone to obstruction.

7. 

   Try to lower your cholesterol. High cholesterol leads to plaque buildup on the atrial wall, and fat accumulates more in the blood vessels, making the heart work slowly and easily get sick.
   • High LDL (also known as "bad") cholesterol and low HDL ("good") cholesterol both lead to atherosclerosis.

8. 

   Consider your weight. Obesity (BMI of 30 or higher) often aggravates risk factors because the condition is tied to high blood pressure, high cholesterol and the likelihood of developing diabetes.

9. 

   Evaluate your stress level. Stress makes the heart work harder because each time you are stressed it will beat faster and harder. People who are constantly in a stressful state are at an increased risk of developing heart-related diseases. Stress increases the risk of blood clots and also stimulates the body to produce hormones that cause blood pressure to rise.
   • Use healthy stress relief techniques like yoga, tai chi, and meditation.
   • Daily heart-rate-raising exercises not only keep your heart healthy, but also help relieve stress.
   • Avoid unhealthy substances such as alcohol, caffeine, nicotine or junk food to relieve stress.
   • Massage therapy can help you cope with stress.
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Method 3 of 4: Symptomatic treatment of coronary heart disease

1. 

   Make an appointment with your doctor. If you have severe chest pain or think it is a heart attack, call an ambulance or go to the emergency room right away. For milder symptoms, you should see your doctor as soon as possible. In any case, a healthcare professional can more accurately diagnose coronary heart disease thanks to the availability of medical equipment.
   • Describe your symptoms in great detail to your doctor, including what triggers the problem, whatever makes the condition worse, and how long the symptoms last.

2. 

   Check your stress level. For less urgent cases your doctor may order stress testing to diagnose coronary heart disease. To do this test you must monitor your heart rate during exercise (usually running on a treadmill) and look for abnormalities in blood flow.

3. 

   Connect to a heart monitor. An electrocardiograph (ECG or EKG) continuously monitors the heart's activity. Doctors often use this machine to look for ischemic changes (the heart is not receiving enough blood).

4. 

   Test for heart enzymes. If you are undergoing cardiac monitoring in the hospital, your health care provider will likely check for levels of a heart enzyme called troponin that is released by the heart when damaged. The heart enzyme test is done three times eight hours apart.

5. 

   X-ray. During an emergency, your doctor uses X-rays to look for signs of enlarged heart or condensation in the lungs caused by heart failure. In some cases, in addition to heart monitoring the doctor also requires an x-ray.

6. 

   Cardiac catheterization test. If other test results show any abnormalities, you may need to discuss cardiac catheterization with your cardiologist. They will place a dye catheter into the femoral artery (a large artery located in the groin and down the leg). This technique allows them to obtain a picture of a coronary artery (an image of the blood flowing in an artery).

7. 

   Take medicines. If the doctor feels that your case does not need surgery, you will be prescribed oral medication to control coronary artery disease. Active cholesterol control has been shown to shrink some of the coronary (atheroscler) plaques, so your doctor will find a cholesterol-lowering medication that's right for you.
   • If you also have high blood pressure, your doctor must prescribe one of the many high blood pressure medications available on the market, based on your specific medical history.

8. 

   Discuss balloon catheter surgery. For narrowed but unclog arteries, your doctor may recommend balloon catheter surgery. They thread a small catheter with a balloon-attached end into the narrowed artery, then stretch the balloon at the narrowed position to push plaque against the artery wall, helping to restore blood flow thereby.
   • The increased blood flow reduces the chest pain caused by anemia and limits damage to the heart.
   • During this procedure your doctor will place a small metal mesh frame into the artery to keep the artery open after the catheter is placed. The placement of a metal mesh in a coronary artery is sometimes done as a separate procedure.

9. 

   Drills to break atheroma. Drilling to break up atheroma is a non-surgical intervention to clear an artery. This procedure uses a very small diamond-coated drill to separate the plaque from the artery, either alone or additionally to the catheter.
   • This is a method that can be used in high-risk or older patients.

10. 

    Bridge surgery. If the left main artery of the heart (or a combination of two or more arteries) is severely blocked, then the cardiologist may opt for bypass surgery. This procedure requires removal of healthy blood vessels from the legs, arms, chest or abdomen for grafting to bridge the blocked part of the heart.
    • This is a major surgery, and patients typically spend two days in intensive care and a whole week in hospital.
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Method 4 of 4: Prevention of coronary heart disease

1. 

   Give up smoking. If you are a smoker, the first thing you need to do to prevent coronary heart disease is to quit smoking. Smoking puts more pressure on the heart, increases blood pressure, and leads to cardiovascular complications. People who smoke a pack of cigarettes a day are twice as likely to have a heart attack than non-smokers.
   • About 20% of all heart disease-related deaths in the US are caused by tobacco.

2. 

   Check blood pressure periodically. In fact, you can have your blood pressure checked every day at home. Ask your doctor about which blood pressure monitor is best for you. Most home blood pressure monitors have a measuring procedure that involves placing the device on your wrist, holding your wrist in front of your face at heart level, and reading your blood pressure reading.
   • Ask your doctor what is normal for resting blood pressure and they will give you a standard value to compare with your reading.

3. 

   Exercise regularly. Coronary heart disease is a heart problem, so you need to do cardiovascular exercise. Some heart exercises are jogging, brisk walking, swimming, cycling or any other exercise that increases your heart rate. You should exercise at least 30 minutes a day.
   • Consult with your doctor before starting any exercise regimen to make sure it is right for your health and fitness.They can recommend tweaks for your exercise regimen to suit your needs.

4. 

   Maintain a healthy diet. A healthy diet should include heart-healthy foods and keep your weight and cholesterol at the right level. A balanced diet should include:
   • Many fruits and vegetables contain all the vitamins and minerals you need each day
   • Lean proteins like fish and skinless chicken
   • Whole grain products, including whole grain breads, brown rice, and quinoa.
   • Low-fat dairy products like yogurt.
   • Eat less than 3 grams of salt per day to reduce your risk of developing high blood pressure

5. 

   Eat fish at least twice a week. Specifically, you should eat fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids because omega-3 fatty acids help reduce inflammation in the body, thereby reducing the risk of inflammation of the blood vessels leading to heart disease. Fish containing omega-3 fatty acids includes:
   • Salmon, tuna, mackerel, salmon, and herring

6. 

   Avoid foods high in fat. If you are concerned about your heart health, stay away from foods high in saturated fat or trans fat. They increase low-density lipoprotein (LDL) or "bad" cholesterol and cause arterial embolism, leading to heart disease.
   • Food sources of saturated fat are red meat, cream, butter, cheese, sour cream, and products made with lard. Deep-fried products are also often high in saturated fat.
   • Trans fats are often found in fried and processed foods. Solid fats produced from partially hydrogenated vegetable oils are also a source of trans fats.
   • Consume fats from fish and olives. This type of fat is high in omega-3 fatty acids that can reduce the risk of heart attack and heart disease.
   • You should also avoid eating more than one egg a day, especially if you're having trouble controlling your cholesterol. Eggs are generally fine, but too much can increase your risk of heart failure and heart disease. When you eat eggs, don't mix them with other fats, such as cheese or butter.
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Advice

• Maintain a toned body. Ensuring a healthy weight, exercising regularly, and having a healthy diet will help you reduce your risk of coronary heart disease.

Warning

• If you experience symptoms of a heart attack, chest pain, or any other similar symptom, you should see your doctor as soon as possible. Early detection of coronary heart disease also means that the prognosis will be better in the future.
• Note that many people do not experience any symptoms of CAD or CHD. If there are two or more risk factors covered in this article, you should let your doctor know to conduct a heart health assessment and reduce your risk of developing heart disease.
• This article provides information about CAD or CHD, but you should not consider it as medical advice. If you are in a risk group or feel like you are experiencing the symptoms mentioned above, contact your doctor to review your heart health and plan appropriate treatment if needed.