Coronary
Heart Disease And Angina
Coronary heart disease is the most common type of heart
disease in many industrialized countries. It arises from
the narrowing of the coronary arteries, with the result
that blood flow and thus oxygen supply to the heart muscle
is reduced. Such narrowing of the coronary arteries is
typically caused by atherosclerosis.
Other contributory factors include spasms in the coronary
vessels, diabetes, high blood cholesterol, high blood
pressure, adverse physical reactions to mental stress,
and heavy smoking.
The primary symptom of coronary heart disease is angina,
a squeezing chest pain which may radiate to the neck,
jaw, abdomen, and upper left part of the body. The pain
is a signal that the heart is not receiving sufficient
blood and oxygen. Angina may present itself in a number
of different ways. For instance, patients with “silent”
angina tend to feel no physical discomfort or pain. Angina
may also be stable or unstable. Stable angina refers to
chest pain and/or discomfort which occurs in a regular
or predictable pattern (for instance, whenever the patient
walks up a flight of stairs) and which is usually relieved
by rest. In contrast, unstable angina, which is more serious,
is discomfort that occurs without warning. The patient
may experience sudden sharp pain even with little or no
physical exertion, or even without having any prior symptoms
of coronary heart disease. |
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