Chronic coronary heart disease, also known as myocardial ischemia, is a heart condition in which the heart muscle is damaged or does not work as efficiently by reducing blood flow to the heart. Reduced blood flow is most often caused by narrowing of the coronary arteries (atherosclerosis). The risk of the disease increases with age, and the disease is more common among smokers. In addition, people with diabetes, high blood cholesterol, high blood pressure and those with a family history of the condition are at risk.
Symptoms of Coronary Heart Disease
The most serious symptom is chest pain, which may indicate a heart attack. It is felt as a burden on the chest and upper body, including the neck, jaws and shoulders. Chest pain can also be the result of various other causes, such as anxiety or panic attacks, or even heartburn and sore throats. However, they may be associated with angina pectoris,which is one of the clinical manifestations of cardiac ischemia. Therefore, if you experience chronic chest pain, it is extremely important to stop smoking (if you smoke) and see a doctor for a complete and thorough diagnosis of the heart and blood vessels in order to rule out or confirm the diagnosis of coronary artery disease.
Symptoms may also include a feeling of choking or shortness of breath, which indicates insufficient blood flow to the lungs or limited blood supply from the pulmonary arteries. Lack of ease of breathing can be confused with other symptoms, not all of which indicate severe heart disease, but may indicate other ailments. This may be due to pneumonia or pulmonary embolism. Emphysema of the lungs of smokers is also one of the main causes of chronic and progressive degeneration of the lower respiratory tract from the constant inhalation of tobacco smoke and the accumulation of tar on the inner walls of the lungs. If these and other causes are ruled out, then the person most likely has coronary heart disease.
Symptoms of this disease also include cardiomegaly, or enlargement of the heart (increase in the thickness of the heart's muscle walls, resulting in an increase in its size). Possible causes of the disease include general heart failure, hypertension, obesity, diabetes, high cholesterol, and smoking. Sometimes the cause may be congenital heart block, which is a genetic disorder. Also causethere may be excessive alcohol consumption, a side effect from certain specific diet pills, excessive caffeine intake, and too much stress in everyday life. Some viral infections, as well as autoimmune diseases, can cause serious illness such as coronary heart disease.
Symptoms of the disease are also external. So, swelling of the arms, legs or abdomen may indicate that insufficient blood is supplied to various organs and tissues, so fluid is retained in them. Cardiac arrhythmia, or the occurrence of an abnormal heart rhythm, is another symptom. Sometimes an imbalance in blood sugar levels, such as hypoglycemia, when levels fall below normal, can also lead to cardiac arrhythmias. However, the best way to confirm or deny the diagnosis of coronary artery disease, the symptoms of which you have discovered in yourself, is to visit a doctor for an immediate diagnosis.
According to recent research, this disease can be prevented, or at least reduced in severity. How, you ask? The answer is simple - a he althy lifestyle. Of course, it is not easy to give up many bad habits, but if you think about the result, then everything can be achieved.
Those who have been diagnosed should also make certain lifestyle changes to protect against symptoms of ischemia: avoid stress, stop smoking/drinking alcohol, limit high-fat foods, and exerciselifestyle.
