“Angina, a gentle reminder: the heart’s whispers are precious melodies, urging us to cherish each beat of life’s symphony.”
Definition:
Chest pain or discomfort, known as angina, is a result of the heart muscle not getting enough oxygen-rich blood. The condition is usually indicative of coronary artery disease (CAD), which is brought on by occlusion or constriction of the coronary arteries that provide blood to the heart muscle.
Types of Angina:
1-Stable Angina;
The most prevalent kind of angina is this one. It happens when the heart is under more stress or during physical exertion than usual. Usually, the discomfort is predictable and goes away when you relax or take medicine.
2-Unstable Angina:
This variety is more severe and erratic. It may indicate the impending onset of a heart attack and can happen even when at rest or with little physical effort. Emergency medical intervention is necessary for unstable angina.
3-Variant (Prinzmetal’s) Angina:
This is an uncommon kind of angina when the blockage is not from plaque accumulation but rather a spasm in the coronary arteries. It can be severe and usually happens while at rest. Drugs that relax the arteries may have an effect on it.
Symptoms of Angina:
- Chest pain, pressure, tightness, or discomfort, typically behind the breastbone
- Pain may radiate to the neck, jaw, shoulders, arms, or back
- Shortness of breath
- Nausea
- Fatigue
- Sweating
- Dizziness
Diagnosis of Angina:
1-Medical History and Physical Examination:
In addition to doing a physical examination, a doctor will inquire about your symptoms, medical history, and risk factors.
2-Electrocardiogram (ECG/EKG):
The medical examination known as an electrocardiogram, or EKG, measures the heart’s electrical activity over a specified duration. Monitoring the efficacy of medication, evaluating the impact of heart disease, and identifying and analysing irregularities in cardiac rhythm are among its frequent uses.
Little electrodes that are affixed to the skin of the arms, legs, and chest are used to record an ECG. These electrodes are used to identify the electrical impulses produced by the heart’s muscle cells. When viewed on a graph or monitor, the ensuing waveform patterns offer insightful data regarding the general health and function of the heart.
3-Stress Test:
To achieve this, stress the heart with exercise or medicine while keeping an eye on its reaction. It aids in assessing the heart’s blood flow during exertion.
4-Coronary Angiography:
Coronary angiography is a medical procedure that shows the coronary arteries, which are the blood channels that feed the heart muscle with blood rich in oxygen.
It is commonly used to identify and evaluate the severity of coronary artery disease (CAD), a condition in which plaque accumulation causes the arteries to narrow or become blocked. Using a catheter that is inserted through a blood vessel—typically in the arm or groin—a unique dye (contrast material) is injected into the arteries during coronary angiography in order to reach the heart. Then, while the dye passes through the coronary arteries, X-ray pictures (angiograms) are captured, emphasising any obstructions or anomalies.
Cardiologists can use this procedure to assess the degree and location of artery narrowing and determine whether additional therapy, such as a bypass or angioplasty, is necessary.
5-Blood Tests:
Checking for cardiac enzymes or indicators of heart disease may be the purpose of these.
Treatment of Angina:
1-Lifestyle Changes:
- Quitting smoking
- Eating a healthy diet low in saturated fats and cholesterol
- Regular exercise
- Maintaining healthy weight
- Managing stress
2-Medications:
- Nitroglycerin: Relaxes blood vessels, improving blood flow to the heart.
- Beta-blockers: Lower heart rate and blood pressure, reducing the heart’s workload.
- Calcium channel blockers: Relax blood vessels and increase blood flow to the heart.
- Aspirin: Reduces the risk of blood clot formation.
- Statins: Lower cholesterol levels.
3-Angioplasty and Stenting:
This method involves inserting a catheter into the clogged artery that has a balloon at the tip. In order to keep the artery open, a stent—a tiny mesh tube—may be implanted after the balloon is inflated to compress the plaque.
4-Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG):
By bypassing the clogged location and grafting a healthy blood vessel from another area of the body onto the coronary artery, this procedure restores blood flow to the heart.
5-Lifestyle modifications:
Controlling risk factors such high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, and obesity is essential.
Continuous care and treatment of angina is necessary to lower the risk of complications like heart attack or stroke. Patients with angina must collaborate closely with their medical professionals to create a customised treatment strategy.
For more interesting blogs, visit: Wellnesio.com and blog page
👌😄