Coronary heart disease, also known as ischemic heart disease, is the number one cause of death worldwide. This disease is also often called coronary artery disease because the cause is a blockage of the arteries. A blocked heart artery will cause a lack of blood flow and the inability to deliver oxygen and other nutrients to different parts of the body. Many people know the symptoms of chest pain (angina), but heart disease can appear in a variety of other ways. By understanding all the risk factors and symptoms associated with coronary artery disease, you can help manage or even reduce the risk of this disease.
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Method 1 of 4: Recognizing Symptoms
Step 1. Pay attention to the case of chest pain
Chest pain (angina) is the earliest possible sign of coronary heart disease. Angina is described as a strange or unexplained pain felt in the chest area. Some people describe it as discomfort, tightness, heaviness, pressure, burning, pain, numbness, squeezing, or a feeling of fullness in the chest. The pain may radiate to the neck, jaw, back, left shoulder, and left arm. Because these areas share the same nerve pathways, pain from the chest will usually radiate there. You may experience chest pain during activities, when you eat heavy meals, when you feel tense for any reason, and when you are in a very emotional state.
- If coronary artery disease is causing chest pain, then the pain is the result of too little blood flow to the heart. This usually occurs when the demand for blood flow is highest so the association with angina and physical activity is in its early stages.
- Angina usually presents with other associated symptoms, including shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, dizziness or palpitations, fatigue, sweating (especially cold sweats), abdominal pain, and vomiting.
Step 2. Watch for signs of atypical angina
Atypical angina means symptoms such as abdominal discomfort, inability to breathe, fatigue, dizziness, numbness, nausea, toothache, indigestion, weakness, anxiety, and sweating, which can occur without the usual chest pain. Women and people with diabetes have a higher chance of experiencing atypical symptoms.
Atypical angina may also be "unstable," meaning that it occurs when you are at rest and not just during activity and carries an increased risk of heart attack
Step 3. Monitor your shortness of breath
Shortness of breath usually occurs in the later stages of the disease. Coronary heart disease reduces the ability of the heart to pump blood in the body, causing blockage of blood vessels. When it occurs in the lungs, you will feel shortness of breath.
Talk to your doctor if you feel like you can't catch your breath when doing simple physical activities, such as walking, gardening, or doing household chores
Step 4. Watch for abnormal heart rhythms
An irregular heartbeat is also called an arrhythmia. This can be described as if the heartbeat skips a beat or occasionally beats faster. You may also feel an irregularity in the pulse. If you feel this irregularity accompanied by chest pain, go to the ER.
- In the case of coronary artery disease, cardiac arrhythmias occur when reduced blood flow interferes with electrical impulses to the heart.
- The most severe form of arrhythmia associated with coronary heart disease is sudden cardiac arrest in which the heartbeat is not only abnormal but stops completely. This usually causes death within minutes if the heart is no longer being pumped, usually with the help of a pacemaker (defibrillator).
Step 5. Realize that coronary heart disease can cause a heart attack
The most serious complication caused by coronary heart disease is a heart attack. People who are in the later stages of coronary heart disease have a much greater risk of having a heart attack. Pain in the chest will get worse, you will find it difficult to breathe, feel nauseous and anxious, and break out in a cold sweat. You should call an ambulance immediately if you suspect that you or your family are having a heart attack.
- A heart attack is sometimes the first sign that you have coronary heart disease. Even if you haven't experienced any other symptoms of heart disease, seek medical attention for any chest pain or shortness of breath you're feeling because it could be a sign of a serious health problem such as coronary heart disease.
- Sometimes a heart attack can present with atypical symptoms such as anxiety, fear that something terrible is going to happen, or a feeling of heaviness in the chest. Any unusual symptoms that appear suddenly should be evaluated by a doctor as soon as possible.
Method 2 of 4: Knowing the Risk Factors
Step 1. Consider your age
Damaged and narrowed arteries may simply be due to age. People 55 years of age or older have a higher risk. Of course, lifestyle choices that are not good for health, such as an unhealthy diet or not getting enough exercise, combined with old age can also increase the likelihood of developing this disease.
Step 2. Consider your gender
In general, men are more likely to develop coronary heart disease than women. However, a woman's risk increases after menopause.
Women also usually experience less severe symptoms of atypical coronary heart disease. Women tend to experience sharper, burning chest pain, and may experience pain in the neck, jaw, esophagus, stomach, or back. If you are a woman experiencing abnormal sensations or pain in your chest or shoulders, or if you have difficulty breathing, talk to your doctor as these may be early warning signs of coronary heart disease
Step 3. Look at your family history
If anyone in your immediate family has a history of heart disease, you have a higher risk of coronary artery disease. If your father or brother was diagnosed before age 55 or if your mother or sister was diagnosed before age 65, you are at highest risk.
Step 4. Assess your nicotine use
Smoking is the main cause of most cases of coronary heart disease. Cigarettes contain nicotine and carbon monoxide which both force the heart and lungs to work harder. Other chemicals in cigarettes can damage the integrity of the lining of the heart's arteries. According to studies, when you smoke, you increase your chances of suffering from coronary heart disease by 25%.
E-cigarettes (vaping) still have the same effect on the heart. For your health, avoid all forms of nicotine
Step 5. Get your blood pressure tested
Constantly high blood pressure can cause hardening and thickening of the arteries. This constricts the flow of blood and makes the heart work harder to circulate blood throughout the body, leading to a greater risk of heart disease.
The normal blood pressure range is 90/60 mm Hg to 120/80 mm Hg. Blood pressure is not always the same and varies over a short period of time
Step 6. Consider if you are diabetic
People with diabetes have blood that is thicker and stickier, making it harder to pump around the body, meaning the heart has to work harder all the time. People with diabetes also have thicker atrial walls in the heart, which means the heart's ducts can become blocked more easily.
Step 7. Try to lower cholesterol
High cholesterol results in the buildup of plaque on the walls of the arteries of the heart. High cholesterol also means there is more fat storage in the blood vessels, making the heart sluggish and more susceptible to disease.
High levels of LDL (called "bad" cholesterol) and low levels of HDL ("good" cholesterol) can also cause atherosclerosis, which is inflammation of the blood vessels caused by the buildup of atheromatous plaques
Step 8. Consider your weight
Obesity (BMI 30 or higher) usually exacerbates other risk factors because obesity is linked to high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes.
Step 9. Evaluate your stress level
Stress can make the heart work harder because nervousness and tension make the heart beat faster and harder. People who are always stressed have a greater chance of developing heart-related diseases. Stress increases the risk of blood clots and causes the body to release hormones that increase blood pressure.
- Try healthy sources of stress relief like yoga, taicis, and meditation.
- Daily aerobic exercise can not only strengthen the heart, but also relieve stress.
- Avoid unhealthy substances such as alcohol, caffeine, nicotine, or junk food to deal with stress.
- Massage therapy may be able to help fight stress.
Method 3 of 4: Treating Symptoms of Coronary Heart Disease
Step 1. Visit a doctor
If you have severe chest pain or what you think is a heart attack, you should call an ambulance and go to the ER as soon as possible. For less severe symptoms, see a doctor as soon as possible. Whatever the scenario, medical professionals have access to the tools needed to make a correct coronary heart disease diagnosis.
Describe your symptoms in detail to your doctor, including what might be causing them, anything that makes them worse, and how long they last
Step 2. Take a stress test
For less severe cases, your doctor may suggest a stress test to help diagnose coronary heart disease. This test involves monitoring your heart while you exercise (usually running on a treadmill) to look for signs of abnormal blood flow.
Step 3. Use a heart monitor
The EKG (or ECG) will continue to monitor your heart. Medical professionals at the hospital will look for changes associated with ischemia (the heart is not receiving enough blood).
Step 4. Test cardiac enzymes
If you are being monitored in a hospital, hospital staff will likely check the level of a cardiac enzyme, called troponin, which the heart releases when it breaks down. You have to go through three different level tests that are eight hours apart each.
Step 5. Get an X-ray
X-rays can show signs of an enlarged heart or fluid in the lungs due to heart failure if you are rushed to the hospital. In some cases, your doctor may suggest an X-ray in addition to cardiac monitoring.
Step 6. Perform cardiac catheterization
For certain abnormalities in other suggested tests, you may need to talk to a cardiologist for cardiac catheterization. This means the cardiologist will insert a thin tube filled with colored fluid into the femoral artery (the large artery located in the groin and leading to the legs). This process allows the medical team to make an angiogram (image of blood flow in arteries).
Step 7. Take the medicine
If your doctor feels that your specific case does not require surgery, you may need medication to help manage coronary artery disease. Aggressive cholesterol management has been shown to shrink some coronary plaques (atheroma), so your doctor may think cholesterol medication is right for you.
If you also have high blood pressure, your doctor will prescribe one of the many medications available to treat the condition based on your specific case history
Step 8. Talk about balloon angioplasty
For narrowed arteries that have not been blocked, your doctor will likely discuss angioplasty options. In this procedure, the doctor will insert a thin tube with a balloon tied at the end into the artery. By inflating a small balloon over the narrowed area of the artery, the balloon pushes the plaque away from the artery wall and restores blood flow.
- The increased blood flow will reduce chest pain and reduce the amount of damage done to the heart.
- The doctor will likely place a small tube or stent into the artery during the procedure. This can help the arteries stay open after angioplasty. Coronary stent replacement is sometimes also performed as a stand-alone procedure.
Step 9. Ask about rotablation
Rotablation is another type of non-surgical procedure to help clean the arteries. This procedure uses a small diamond-coated drill to scrape plaque from the arteries. This procedure can be used alone or as a complement to angioplasty.
The procedure may be used in high-risk or elderly patients
Step 10. Talk about bypass surgery
If the main heart artery on the left (or a combination of two or more arteries) is severely blocked, a cardiologist will likely discuss bypass surgery. This procedure involves transplanting healthy blood vessels from the legs, arms, chest, or abdomen in an attempt to create alternative channels for blocked ducts in the heart.
This is a very serious surgery that usually requires a total of up to two days in the intensive care unit and up to a week in the hospital
Method 4 of 4: Preventing Coronary Heart Disease
Step 1. Quit smoking
If you smoke, the first step you can take to prevent coronary artery disease or coronary heart disease is to quit. Smoking puts additional stress on the heart, raises blood pressure, and causes cardiovascular complications. People who smoke a pack a day have twice the risk of having a heart attack than nonsmokers.
About 20% of all heart disease-related deaths in America come from smoking
Step 2. Check your blood pressure regularly
In fact, you can check your blood pressure once a day from the comfort of your own home. Ask your doctor about the device he thinks is best for you. Most home blood pressure checkers require you to place the device on your wrist, hold your wrist in front of your body at heart level, and then check your blood pressure reading.
Ask your doctor what your normal resting blood pressure is. This is the standard for comparing daily checks
Step 3. Exercise regularly
Since coronary heart disease is a cardiovascular (or heart) problem, you should do cardiovascular exercises to strengthen your heart. Cardio exercises include running, brisk walking, swimming, cycling, or other exercises that increase your heart rate. You should try to exercise for at least 30 minutes every day.
Talk to your doctor before starting any exercise program to make sure it's appropriate for your health and fitness level. In fact, your doctor can usually recommend options tailored to your specific needs
Step 4. Maintain a healthy diet
A healthy diet should consist of foods that are heart-healthy and also maintain body weight and cholesterol at healthy levels. A balanced diet should consist of:
- High quantity of fruits and vegetables that contain a balanced daily intake of vitamins and minerals.
- Lean protein like skinless fish and chicken.
- Whole-grain products, including whole-wheat bread, brown rice, and quinoa.
- Low-fat dairy products such as yogurt.
- Less than 3 grams of salt a day to reduce the chances of high blood pressure
Step 5. Eat fish at least twice a week
In particular, you should eat fish that are rich in omega 3 fatty acids. Omega 3 reduces the risk of inflammation in the body, which in turn reduces the chances of inflammation of the blood vessels that can lead to heart disease. Fish that contain omega 3 fatty acids include:
Salmon, tuna, mackerel, trout and herring
Step 6. Avoid excessive consumption of fatty foods
If you're concerned about heart health, you should stay away from foods high in saturated fat or trans fat. This type of fat raises low-density lipoprotein (LDL) or "bad" cholesterol and can clog arteries and lead to heart disease.
- Sources of saturated fat include red meat, ice cream, butter, cheese, sour cream, and products made from lard. Fried foods are also usually full of saturated fat.
- Trans fats are usually found in processed and fried foods. Butter made from partially hydrogenated vegetable oil is another common source of trans fats.
- Eat fats from fish and olives. This type of fat is rich in omega 3 fatty acids which can help reduce the risk of heart attack and heart disease.
- You should also avoid eating more than one egg per day, especially if you have trouble controlling cholesterol levels. While eggs are usually healthy when eaten in moderation, too many of them can actually increase your risk of heart failure or heart disease. When eating eggs, do not be accompanied by fats such as cheese or butter.
Tips
Aim to be physically fit. An ideal body weight, regular exercise, and a good diet can help reduce the chances of suffering from coronary heart disease
Warning
- If you experience heart pain, chest pain, or other similar symptoms, you should consult a doctor as soon as possible. Coronary heart disease detected early can mean a better prognosis or outcome in the future.
- Note that many people experience no symptoms of coronary artery disease or coronary heart disease at all. If you have two or more of the risk factors described in this article, talk to your doctor to evaluate your heart health and reduce your risk of heart disease.
- Although it provides information about coronary artery disease and coronary heart disease, this article does not offer medical advice. If you fall into one of the risk categories or think you are experiencing any of the symptoms listed above, contact your doctor to determine your heart health and an appropriate treatment plan if needed.
