Heart Disease Symptoms And The Treatment Of Heart Disease
Heart Disease Symptoms And Their Risk Factors
The major risk factors for Atherosclerosis are:
• An unhealthy diet that is high in saturated fats and cholesterol
• Obesity
• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Excess alcohol consumption
• Physical inactivity
• Smoking
• Age – Heart disease is more likely to occur as you get older, especially after the age of 45 years for men and 55 years for women
• Family history of heart disease
Treatment Options For Heart Disease
While there are no cures for the most common causes of heart disease, some treatment options – lifestyle change, medication, and surgery can help most people successfully manage and live with those conditions. A doctor will often prescribe a combination of two and sometimes all of these options to help patients recover from heart disease and prevent heart failure.
In some cases, angioplasty or surgery can be performed to relieve heart disease symptoms or prolong life. Angioplasty is less invasive and does not require surgery, however this treatment may not be suitable for some patients. Therefore, Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG) is necessary.
Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI)
For less serious cases, patients can be treated with Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) such as Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty (PTCA) or balloon angioplasty, a widely used technique for opening blocked arteries, and stent or drug-eluting stent placement. These are non-surgical procedures in which a small balloon at the tip of the catheter (a thin flexible tube) is inserted near the blocked or narrowed area of the coronary artery. When the balloon is inflated, the diameter of the coronary artery is widened to improve blood flow. In most instances, a stent is also implanted to prop open the narrow segment of the artery. The newer stents – drug-eluting stents are coated
Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG)
Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG), more commonly known as bypass surgery, is performed to bypass blockages and obstructions of the coronary arteries and relieve angina in patients who have failed medical therapy and are not good candidates for PTCA. CABG surgery is ideal for patients with narrowings in multiple arteries and even for patients who are detected late with complications of heart attack. CABG surgery has been shown to improve long-term survival in patients with significant narrowing of the left main coronary artery as well as those with multiple arteries, especially in those with decreased heart muscle pump function. With today's technology, CABG surgery has high success rates and most patients can be discharged from hospital in about a week.
Take Charge of Your Heart Now!
You can start by becoming aware of your risk factors to reduce your chances of having a heart attack. If you think or have underlying heart disease, it is time to seek medical treatment. Remember, early detection and treatment can save your life.
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