Coronary Heart Disease
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Coronary Heart Disease
Quit smoking, if you smoke.Eat lots of fruits and vegetables and low-fat dairy products, but not a lot of meat or fatty foods.Walk or do some form of physically activity on most days of the week.Lose weight, if you are overweight.Medicines " пїЅ The medicines to treat heart disease are very important. Some medicines lower your risk of heart attacks and can help you live longer. But you must take them every day, as directed. Medicines your doctor might prescribe include:- Medicines called statins, which lower cholesterol - Medicines to lower blood pressure - Aspirin or other medicines that help prevent blood clots - Medicines to treat diabetes
People who have chest pain caused by coronary heart disease (called "angina " пїЅ) can also get medicines to relive their pain. These medicines might include "nitrates, " пїЅ "beta blockers, " пїЅ and others. пїЅ пїЅ
If your doctor recommends angioplasty or bypass surgery, ask these questions: пїЅ пїЅ
All topics are updated as new evidence becomes available and our peer review process is complete. пїЅ пїЅ
This topic retrieved from UpToDate on: Nov 04, 2014. пїЅ пїЅ
Release: 22.8 - C22.208 пїЅ пїЅ
пїЅ пїЅ 2014 UpToDate, Inc. All rights reserved. пїЅ пїЅ
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you.The use of UpToDate content is governed by the UpToDate Terms of Use. пїЅ пїЅ2014 UpToDate, Inc. All rights reserved. пїЅ пїЅ
- Medicines called statins, which lower cholesterol
- Medicines to lower blood pressure
- Aspirin or other medicines that help prevent blood clots
- Medicines to treat diabetes
- Angioplasty (also known as "stenting " пїЅ) " пїЅ During angioplasty or stenting, the doctor sends a thin tube with a balloon at the end of it to the blockage. Then the doctor inflates the balloon to open the blockage. Often the doctor props open the artery using a tiny mesh tube called a stent.
- Bypass surgery (also known as "coronary artery bypass grafting " пїЅ or CABG) " пїЅ During bypass surgery, the doctor removes a piece of blood vessel from another part of the body. Then he or she reattaches the blood vessel above and below the area that is clogged. This re-routes blood around the clog, and allows it to get to the part of the heart that was not getting blood (figure 3).
- What are the benefits of this procedure for me? Will the procedure help me live longer? Will it reduce my chance of having a heart attack? Will I feel better if I have this procedure?
- What are the risks of the procedure?
- What happens if I don't have this procedure?
Coronary heart disease
In people with coronary heart disease, the coronary arteries get clogged with fatty deposits called plaques.
Graphic 61785 Version 5.0
Coronary heart disease
In people with coronary heart disease, the coronary arteries get clogged with fatty deposits called plaques.
Graphic 61785 Version 5.0
Heart attack symptoms
This picture shows the main symptoms of a heart attack. People who are having a heart attack often have only some of these symptoms. The pain, pressure, and discomfort caused by a heart attack mostly affect the left side of the body (shown in darker red) but can also affect the right. If you think you are having a heart attack, call 9-1-1 for an ambulance. Do not try to get yourself to the hospital.
Graphic 52579 Version 1.0
Heart attack symptoms
This picture shows the main symptoms of a heart attack. People who are having a heart attack often have only some of these symptoms. The pain, pressure, and discomfort caused by a heart attack mostly affect the left side of the body (shown in darker red) but can also affect the right. If you think you are having a heart attack, call 9-1-1 for an ambulance. Do not try to get yourself to the hospital.
Graphic 52579 Version 1.0
Coronary artery bypass graft surgery
During coronary artery bypass surgery, the surgeon removes a piece of blood vessel from the leg, chest, arm, or belly. Then the surgeon uses that piece of blood vessel (called a "graft") to reroute blood around the blocked artery. The surgery is called "bypass surgery" because it bypasses the blockage. Some people have more than one blocked artery bypassed. In this picture, the graft came from a vein in the leg called the "saphenous vein. " пїЅ But grafts can come from other places, too.
Graphic 73589 Version 4.0
Coronary artery bypass graft surgery
During coronary artery bypass surgery, the surgeon removes a piece of blood vessel from the leg, chest, arm, or belly. Then the surgeon uses that piece of blood vessel (called a "graft") to reroute blood around the blocked artery. The surgery is called "bypass surgery" because it bypasses the blockage. Some people have more than one blocked artery bypassed. In this picture, the graft came from a vein in the leg called the "saphenous vein. " пїЅ But grafts can come from other places, too.
Graphic 73589 Version 4.0