Coronary artery disease is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Symptoms of coronary artery disease are often overlooked and can lead to dangerous cardiovascular complications if not detected and treated promptly.
1. What is coronary artery disease?
Coronary artery disease is a condition in which the coronary arteries that carry blood to the heart muscle become narrowed or obstructed due to a buildup of fatty plaques and cholesterol on the surface of the blood vessels, causing them to become stiff and narrow over time. This reduces the flexibility of these blood vessels, making it difficult for blood to flow through them. As coronary artery symptoms develop and progress, the supply of blood and oxygen to the heart muscle becomes less efficient, which can cause angina or a heart attack. Most heart attacks occur when a blood clot suddenly forms in the narrowed sections of the blood vessels, causing a blockage and permanent damage to the heart muscle.
Coronary artery disease is caused by plaque buildup in the arteries.
In addition, coronary artery disease, when it progresses over time, causes the heart muscle to work harder and become weak, which can lead to heart failure and heart rhythm problems. These are dangerous complications of coronary artery disease. Therefore, understanding this disease helps in diagnosing, detecting symptoms early and treating them more effectively.
2. Symptoms of coronary artery disease
The most common symptoms of coronary artery disease include angina or pain in the heart area. This condition can be described with the following signs:
- Heaviness in the chest
- Feeling of compression or squeezing of the heart
- Tingling in the chest
- Burning
- Numbness in the chest
- Fullness in the abdomen
- Feeling of the heart being squeezed
- Dull chest pain
Symptoms of coronary artery disease in women are often milder than in men. Symptoms that often accompany chest pain include nausea, sweating, fatigue, and shortness of breath. Additionally, the disease can manifest through palpitations, shortness of breath, increased heart rate, dizziness, vomiting, and excessive sweating.
Long-term chest pain is one of the typical symptoms of coronary artery disease in everyone.
3. Causes of coronary artery disease
In the daily activities of each person, there are many risk factors that have been identified as the cause of increased risk of coronary atherosclerosis and cause the first coronary symptoms. Current studies clearly show that there are 2 types of factors and causes of coronary artery disease including:
3.1. Factors and causes that cannot be changed
- Age (50 years and older for men and 55 years and older for women): The older you are, the higher the risk of coronary heart disease.
- Gender: Men are often at higher risk of cardiovascular disease than women. However, postmenopausal women are at higher risk of coronary heart disease.
- Family history: People under 55 years old (men) and 65 years old (women) are at higher risk of coronary heart disease if their parents, grandparents or siblings have had heart complications.
- Related conditions: Coronary artery disease is more likely to occur if you have other medical conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, dyslipidemia, or obesity.
Old age is one of the unchangeable causes of coronary artery disease.
3.2. Modifiable factors and causes
Sedentary lifestyle: People who often sit in one place, do not exercise regularly, and are inactive have a higher risk of cardiovascular disease and related diseases.
Smoking: Smoking habits not only increase the risk of cardiovascular disease but also increase the risk of other dangerous diseases such as lung cancer and nasopharyngeal cancer.
Alcoholism: Drinking too much alcohol and alcoholic beverages is also an important cause of myocardial ischemia and angina.
4. Effective treatment and prevention of coronary artery disease
4.1. How should we live and eat to prevent coronary artery disease?
Changing bad habits and establishing a suitable lifestyle can help prevent and slow the progression of coronary heart disease.
- Quit smoking and avoid secondhand smoke;
- Stop drinking alcohol;
- Eat scientifically: Avoid fast food and processed foods high in fat, and follow a low-salt and low-sugar diet with heart-healthy “rainbow foods” such as whole grains, green vegetables, fruits, beans and nuts;
- Exercise regularly: Patients, especially those with cardiovascular disease, should discuss with their doctor the form and intensity of exercise appropriate to their health condition;
- Improve associated diseases: Patients need to be tested regularly to detect and promptly treat diseases related to cardiovascular disease such as diabetes, obesity, overweight, dyslipidemia, high blood pressure;
- Build a positive, peaceful and happy lifestyle, avoid excessive stress, live wisely, work moderately and manage time effectively.
Unhealthy lifestyle is the main cause of coronary artery disease.
In addition, scientists are also researching more ways to treat coronary artery disease, including:
- Using angiogenic substances: This method applies properties related to stem cells and other genetic materials. Angiogenic substances are administered intravenously or directly into damaged heart tissue.
- Enhanced peripheral counterpulsation method: If you have had coronary artery disease for a long time and your angina has become chronic, but nitrate drugs are not effective or the patient is not eligible for procedures, your doctor will most likely apply this method. This method uses a ring on the leg to inflate and deflate, to increase blood supply to the coronary arteries.
