In our busy daily lives, an invisible killer called coronary atherosclerotic heart disease is quietly threatening our heart health. This kind of complicated disease is actually what we often call coronary heart disease. Coronary heart disease has become the number one "culprit" of heart disease deaths worldwide.
What's going on with coronary heart disease?
Coronary atherosclerotic heart disease, or coronary heart disease for short, is an ischemic heart disease. Our heart needs an adequate blood supply to function properly, and the coronary arteries are the arteries responsible for pumping blood to the heart. When cholesterol and other substances accumulate in the coronary arteries to form plaque, resulting in narrowing or occlusion of the artery wall, the heart will be damaged due to ischemia and lack of oxygen, resulting in coronary heart disease.
Risk factors – how do they stealthily destroy your heart?
Before protecting your heart, understanding the enemy is key. There are a number of risk factors for coronary heart disease:
Non-modifiable risk factors:
1. Age: As we age, we have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.
2. Gender: Men are more likely to develop coronary heart disease than women, especially in premenopausal women, and hormone protection reduces the risk of coronary artery disease.
3. Family history: People with a family history of coronary heart disease, especially first-degree relatives (such as parents, siblings, or children) with early-onset cardiovascular disease, are at increased personal risk.
4. Genetics: Certain genetic factors may contribute to an increased risk of heart disease.
Modifiable risk factors:
1. High blood pressure: Long-term high blood pressure can cause damage to blood vessels and increase the risk of coronary artery disease.
2. High cholesterol: Blood levels of high-density lipoprotein (LDL - "bad" cholesterol) and/or low high-density lipoprotein (HDL - "good" cholesterol) can both increase the risk of disease.
3. Smoking: Smokers have a much higher risk of cardiovascular disease than non-smokers.
4. Diabetes: Diabetes significantly increases the risk of cardiovascular disease.
5. Obesity: Being overweight and obese is a major risk factor for heart disease, especially excess belly fat.
6. Lack of physical activity: Lack of exercise increases the risk of many health problems such as heart disease.
7. Unhealthy diet: A diet high in fat, salt, sugar and processed foods can increase the risk of heart disease.
8. Long-term stress: Long-term high pressure may cause blood pressure to rise, which can be a burden on the heart.
9. Excessive alcohol consumption: Excessive alcohol consumption can increase blood pressure and lead to other heart disease-related problems.
Reducing or controlling these modifiable risk factors can significantly reduce the risk of coronary heart disease.
Self-test – Is your heart signaling for help?
Some common symptoms of coronary heart disease need your attention:
1. Chest pain (angina): You may feel pressure, filling, squeezing, or pain in the center of your chest, sometimes radiating to your neck, jaw, back, shoulders, or arms.
2. Difficulty breathing: Because the heart can't pump blood efficiently to meet the body's needs, it may also occur during light activity or rest.
3. Fatigue: Increased tiredness and decreased stamina can be early signs of coronary heart disease.
4. Palpitations: abnormal heart rhythm sensations, such as skipping or rapid heartbeats.
5. Dizziness or syncope: A lack of blood supply can lead to dizziness or even a temporary loss of consciousness.
6. Nausea, stomach upset: Some patients may experience digestive symptoms.
7. Cold sweats: Cold sweats may occur suddenly for no apparent reason.
8. Changes in angina: Changes in existing angina patterns, such as changes in intensity, frequency, or duration, may indicate an exacerbation.
Special Notes:
If one of the following conditions occurs, it may indicate that a myocardial infarction (heart attack) is occurring, which requires immediate medical intervention:
- Chest pain that lasts longer than a few minutes and does not resolve with rest or nitroglycerin.
- Chest pain with other symptoms listed above.
The symptoms of heart disease vary from person to person, and some people may have no symptoms (called "asymptomatic" coronary heart disease or "silent" angina), especially if you have diabetes. Any new or unusual symptoms should cause alarm and prompt consultation with a doctor.
Lifestyle – How to build a "defensive shield" for the heart?
Prevention of coronary heart disease is an important health issue. Here are some common precautions:
1. Maintain a healthy lifestyle:
- Eat a healthy diet: Choose foods that are low in salt, cholesterol and saturated fat, and eat more fruits, vegetables, whole grains and healthy proteins.
- Weight control: Maintaining an appropriate weight can reduce the risk of coronary heart disease.
- Smoking cessation: Smoking is one of the main risk factors for coronary heart disease, and quitting smoking significantly reduces the risk.
- Limit alcohol consumption: Excessive alcohol consumption increases the risk of coronary heart disease and alcohol consumption should be limited.
2. Engage in moderate physical activity: Getting at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise (e.g., brisk walking, swimming, cycling) or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic exercise (e.g., jogging, dancing) per week can help reduce the risk of coronary heart disease.
3. Control blood pressure and cholesterol levels: Measure your blood pressure and cholesterol levels regularly and take control measures such as medication, a healthy diet, and exercise to stay within the normal range.
4. Control diabetes: If you have diabetes, you need to check your blood sugar level regularly and treat it according to your doctor's advice to reduce the risk of coronary heart disease.
5. Manage stress: Learn to cope effectively with stress and emotional issues by reducing the psychological burden through relaxation techniques, exercise, and seeking support.
6. Regular physical examination: Receive regular physical examination and evaluation by a doctor, as well as relevant examinations (such as electrocardiogram, blood tests, etc.) to detect coronary heart disease risk factors or symptoms early.
These are general prevention recommendations. If you have a specific personal condition or medical history, consult your doctor for more detailed and personalized advice.
Medical Intervention – How Can We Help Protect Our Heart?
Treatment for coronary heart disease can vary depending on the severity of the condition and individual circumstances. Here are some common treatment options:
Drug therapy:
- Antiplatelet drugs, such as aspirin, can reduce blood clotting and prevent thrombosis.
- Drugs that widen the coronary arteries: Nitroglycerin, for example, can dilate blood vessels and improve blood flow.
- Cholesterol-lowering medications: Statins, such as statins, can lower low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels.
- Medications to control high blood pressure or arrhythmias: Choose the right medications to maintain stable blood pressure and heart rhythm.
- Other medications: Depending on the situation, other medications may also be used to control symptoms and reduce the burden on the heart.
Cardiac surgery or intervention:
- Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG): A section of blood vessel (usually the saphenous vein) is removed to bypass a narrowed or occluded coronary artery and restore the blood supply.
- Coronary Intervention (PCI): Through a catheter procedure, a stent is placed in the narrowed part of the coronary artery to dilate the blood vessel and keep it patencious.
Cardiac Rehabilitation:
A comprehensive rehabilitation program that includes regular exercise, dietary modifications, and educational guidance aims to improve quality of life and reduce the risk of coronary heart disease progression.
In addition, lifestyle changes such as quitting smoking, eating a healthy diet and moderate physical activity can help treat coronary heart disease and reduce further heart damage.
Treatment of coronary heart disease requires an individualized assessment and development of a protocol based on the individual situation. Therefore, consult your doctor for more detailed and specific treatment recommendations.
Coronary heart disease is a serious cardiovascular disease, but as long as we maintain a healthy lifestyle and actively prevent and treat it, we can effectively reduce the risk of the disease.