An ECG reading will help determine if the person has developed coronary artery disease. That person can then take steps to remedy the problem. Other diagnostic measures include the exercise stress test, a coronary angiography, an echocardiogram, nuclear scan, magnetic resonance angiography, and CT angiography (Chen 2011).
Treatment usually involves lifestyle changes, but other interventions may be necessary too. Aspirin can prevent blood clots from forming in arteries and therefore reduce risk of heart attack (Chen 2011). Certain patients can take aspirin daily as a preventative measure (Singh 2011). Other pharmacological interventions that are commonly used in the treatment of coronary artery disease include ACE inhibitors, which lower blood pressure and protect the kidneys (Chen 2011). Hormone replacement therapy was once indicated for premenopausal and menopausal women at risk for coronary artery disease but recent research shows that hormone replacement therapy may have the opposite effect. Therefore, hormone replacement therapy is "no longer recommended for prevention of heart disease," (Singh 2011).
Beta-blockers are another group of drugs that "lower heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen use by the heart," as well as "reduce the risk of arrhythmias and improve survival after a heart attack or with heart failure," (Chen 2011). Statins are drugs that reduce lipids and therefore reduce cholesterol, which can be a causal factor in coronary artery disease (Singh 2011). Calcium channel blockers "relax arteries, lower blood pressure, and reduce strain on the heart," (Chen 2011). Diuretics "lower blood pressure and treat congestive heart failure," (Chen 2011).
Some interventions for coronary heart disease are more advanced and complicated and reserved for more serious conditions, in which the patient has already developed problems such as heart attack. For example, "percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has been shown to reduce angina but does not reduce cardiac events or mortality associated with coronary heart disease (Boden, O'Rourke & Teo 2007). Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) are both effective, in reducing fatalities related to coronary heart disease, but of the two interventions CABG is more effective in reducing the number and severity of coronary events related to coronary artery disease (Serruys, Morice, Kappetein, et al. 2009).
Conclusions
Coronary artery disease is...
2). The most serious complication from coronary artery disease is the possibility of a heart attack, which can occur when blood flow to an area of the heart muscle is completely blocked, preventing oxygen-rich blood from reaching that area of heart muscle. However, the effects upon other organs of the body of coronary artery disease are still being studied by scientists. Because genetics and lifestyle are both contributing factors in heart
Other symptoms are shortness of breath and heaviness on the chest, a sensation of tightness, pain, burning sensation, squeezing or pressure on the breastbone or in the arms, neck and jaws. However, some persons showed no symptoms of coronary artery disease before a heart attack and just died suddenly (De Milto). Beneficial and Adverse Effects of Treatment The finding that atherosclerosis is an inflammatory response brought attention to the beneficial use
Coronary Artery Disease Development of Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) Coronary artery disease represents an obstruction or constricting (stenosis) of vessels and arteries which supplies the heart with oxygenated blood. The cause for CAD is atherosclerosis (arterial hardening), or a fatty plaque buildup on inner arterial linings. The resultant obstruction impedes blood flow across coronary arteries. The complete cut- off of blood flow leads to a heart attack (or myocardial infarction, in medical
Diagnostic Studies In basic terms, medical and family histories act as the basis for CAD diagnosis. In this case, abnormal levels of blood proteins, glucose, cholesterol or fats are risk factors for CAD. Further, the risk of CAD is identified by recording electrical purses of the heart using an electrocardiogram. For purposes of indicating heart failure, a chest x-ray may be taken. Any injury in heart muscles can be identified through
Heart Disease (CAD: Coronary Artery Disease) Online web site HeartPoint defines Coronary Artery Disease as Coronary artery disease generally refers to the buildup of cholesterol in the inside layers of the arteries. As shown here, this will slowly narrow the flow of blood through the vessel, and the muscle it supplies will not get enough blood. The plaque weakens the wall. As shown in the lower artery, a crack may develop
Learning Objectives: In support of the Terminal Objective, several key learning objectives will drive the content and curriculum for nurses undergoing the present training course. Primary among them, the training course is designed to create a standardized set of behaviors amongst nurses that conform with existing and evolving best practices in the perioperative care of CABG patients. This means that course content and design will be geared toward achieving procedural and
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