Coronary heart disease
Coronary heart disease (CHD) is usually diagnosed after a risk assessment and some further tests.
If your doctor thinks you may be at risk of developing CHD, they may carry out a risk assessment for cardiovascular disease, myocardial infarction or stroke .This may be carried out as part of a health check.
Your doctor will ask about your medical and family history, check your blood pressure, and do a blood test to assess your cholesterol level.
Before having the cholesterol test, you may be asked not to eat for 12 hours so there is no food in your body that could affect the result.
Your GP or practice nurse can carry out the blood test. A sample will be takeneither using a needle and a syringe or by pricking your finger.
Your GP will also ask about your lifestyle, how much exercise you do and whether you smoke. All these factors will be considered as part of the diagnosis.
To confirm a suspected diagnosis, you may be referred for more tests. A number of different tests are used to diagnose heart-related problems, including:
An ECG records the rhythm and electrical activity of your heart. A number of electrodes (small sticky patches) are put on your arms, legs and chest. The electrodes are connected to a machine that records the electrical signals of each heartbeat.
Although an ECG can detect problems with your heart rhythm, an abnormal reading does not always mean there is anything wrong. Similarly,a normal reading does not always rule out heart problems.
In some cases, you may have an exercise ECG test, or "stress test". This is when an ECG recording is taken while you are exercising (usually on a treadmill or exercise bike). If you experience pain while exercising, the test can help identify whether your symptoms are caused by angina, which is usuallya result ofCHD.
An X-ray may be used to look at the heart, lungs and chest wall. This can help rule out any other conditionsthat may be causing your symptoms.
An echocardiogram is similar to the ultrasound scan used in pregnancy. It produces an image of your heart using sound waves.
The test can identify the structure and pumping function of the heart, the thickness of the heart muscle and the movement of each heart valve, and can be used to create a detailed picture of the heart.
During an echocardiogram, you will be asked to remove your top and a small handheld device called a transducer will be passed over your chest.
Lubricating gel is put on to your skin to allow the transducer to move smoothly and make sure there is continuous contact between the sensor and the skin.
In addition to cholesterol testing, you may need to have a number of blood tests to monitor the activity of the heart. These mayinclude cardiac enzyme tests, which can show whether there has been recentdamage to the heart muscle.
Coronary angiography ,also known as a cardiac catheter test, can identify whether the coronary arteries are narrowed and how severe any blockages are. It also provides information about the pressure inside your heart chambers and how well your heart is functioning.
In an angiogram, a catheter (flexible tube) is passed into an artery in your groin or arm and guided into the coronary arteries using X-rays. A dye is injected into the catheter to show up the arteries supplying your heart with blood.
A number of X-ray pictures are then taken, which will highlight any blockages. It is usually performed under local anaesthetic .
A coronary angiogram is relatively safe and serious complications are rare. The risk of having a heart attack, stroke or dying during the procedure is estimated at about1 or 2 in every 1,000.
However, after having a coronary angiogram you may experience some minor side effects, including:
Radionuclide tests can indicate how strongly your heart pumps and show the flow of blood to the muscular walls of your heart. They provide more detailed information than the exercise ECG test.
During a radionuclide test, a small amount of a radioactive substance called an isotope is injected into your blood (sometimes during exercise).
If you have difficulty exercising, you may be given some medication to make your heart beat faster. A camera placed close to your chest picks up the radiation transmitted by the isotope as it passes through your heart, highlighting areas where there is poor blood supply.
An MRI scan can be used to produce detailed pictures of your heart. During an MRI scan, you lie inside a tunnel-like scanner that has a magnet around the outside. The scanner uses a magnetic field and radio waves to produce images.
A CT scan uses X-rays and a computer to create detailed images of the inside of your body. During a CT scan, you lie on a bed while a small tube that takes X-rays moves and rotates around your body.
Find out about coronary heart disease, which is a major cause of death both in the UK and worldwide. It's responsible for more than 73,000 deaths in the UK each year.
The most common symptoms of coronary heart disease (CHD) are chest pain (angina) and a heart attack. You can also experience other symptoms, such as palpitations and unusual breathlessness...
Coronary heart disease (CHD) is usually caused by a build-up of fatty deposits on the walls of the arteries around the heart (coronary arteries). Your risk of developing atherosclerosis is significantly increased if you; smoke, have high blood pressure, etc.
Classification of heart diseases
If your doctor thinks you may be at risk of developing CHD, they may carry out a risk assessment for cardiovascular disease, myocardial infarction or stroke . This may be carried out as part of a health check.
Although coronary heart disease (CHD) cannot be cured, treatment can help manage the symptoms and reduce the risk of further problems. If you have been diagnosed with CHD, you can reduce your risk of further episodes by making simple lifestyle changes.
After having heart surgery or problems like a heart attack, it is possible to resume a normal life. If you have heart surgery, a member of the cardiac rehabilitation team may visit you in hospital to give you information about your condition and the procedure you are having.
There are several ways you can help lower your risk of developing coronary heart disease (CHD), such as reducing your blood pressure and cholesterol levels. You should limit the amount of salt you eat to no more than 6g (0.2oz) a day, as too much salt will increase your blood pressure.
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