What Causes Blocked Arteries
Arterial blockages are caused by plaque. Plaque is composed of several substances, mainly fat, cholesterol, calcium, fibrin , and cellular waste. Once plaque gains a foothold in the arteries, cells lining the arterial wall may become inflamed, thereby worsening the blockage.
The buildup of arterial plaque can take place over many years, gradually reducing heart function. Eventually, plaque can rupture and break free of the arterial wall. When the plaque ruptures, blood responds to certain substances in the plaque by forming a blood clot . While blood clotting is a normal and healthy response to an open wound, it is problematic when blood clots around a piece of plaque. The resulting thrombus could end up blocking a critical artery, such as a coronary artery or pulmonary artery. Loose plaque and blood clots can cause pulmonary embolism, brain stroke, or heart attack.
Symptoms Of Arterial Blockage In The Heart
An arterial blockage in the heart is a buildup of high fat and cholesterol content within the blood vessels in the body. This article throws light on the various symptoms of arterial blockage in the heart.
An arterial blockage in the heart is a buildup of high fat and cholesterol content within the blood vessels in the body. This article throws light on the various symptoms of arterial blockage in the heart.
Do you know that coronary heart disease is one of the leading causes of death in America? The coronary heart disease is a direct result of the arterial blockage in the heart. The heart is a vital organ of the body that is responsible for pumping more than three thousand gallons of blood every day.
The continuous supply of blood keeps it healthy and functioning properly. However, when there is a buildup of cholesterol and fatty deposits inside the walls of the arteries of the heart, it leads to the restriction of blood flow in the heart either by physically blocking the flow or altering the function of the arteries. This buildup of plaque inside the inner walls of the arteries is known as Atherosclerosis or arterial blockage in the heart.
Coronary Arterial Blockage Symptoms
- Tightness or heaviness in the chest
- Pressure
- Burning sensation in the chest
- Numbness
- Radiating pain to the left shoulder, arms, neck and jaw
Risk of Arterial Blockage
There are many causes that contribute to the increased risk of arterial blockage by plaque including:
Note:
What Should I Expect If I Have Coronary Artery Disease Can It Be Cured
Technically coronary artery disease cant be cured. If youve been diagnosed with coronary artery disease, follow your healthcare providers treatment plan to help prevent your condition from getting worse. Your treatment plan may include procedures and surgery to increase the blood supply to your heart, lifestyle changes to target your risk factors and medications.
If your coronary artery disease has led to a heart attack, your healthcare provider can recommend a cardiac rehabilitation program to reduce your risk of future heart problems, regain strength and improve the quality of your life.
It is important to keep all follow-up appointments and have all tests ordered by your healthcare provider. These are needed to keep track of your condition, monitor how well your treatment plan is working and make adjustments if needed.
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How Is Angina Different From A Heart Attack
Both angina and heart attack are a consequence of coronary artery disease. The symptoms of a heart attack are similar to angina. But, angina is a warning symptom of heart disease, not a heart attack.
| Angina | Heart Attack |
|---|---|
| Caused by a drop in blood supply to the heart due to the gradual build-up of blockage in the arteries. | Caused by a sudden lack of blood supply to the heart muscle. The blockage is often due to a clot in a coronary artery. |
| Does not cause permanent damage to the heart. | Can cause permanent damage to the heart muscle. |
| Symptoms last a few minutes and usually stop if you rest or take medication. You may have chest pain or discomfort, shortness of breath, palpitations, fast heartbeat, dizziness, nausea, extreme weakness and sweating. Symptoms are often triggered by strenuous activity, stress, eating or being in the cold. | Symptoms usually last more than a few minutes and do not completely go away after taking nitroglycerin. Symptoms include chest pain or discomfort pain or discomfort in other areas of the upper body trouble breathing or shortness of breath sweating or cold sweat feeling full, like you are choking or indigestion nausea or vomiting lightheadedness extreme weakness anxiety fast or irregular heartbeat. |
| Emergency medical attention is not needed. Call your doctor if you have not had symptoms before or if your symptoms have gotten worse or happen more often. | Emergency medical attention is needed if symptoms last longer than 5 minutes. |
How Should I Screen Or Diagnose Blocked Heart Arteries
Regular health checkups will help to identify the condition early. Doctor will ask several questions related to your medical history and your family history. The risk of coronary artery disease increases if any of the family members or relatives had heart disease earlier.
This is followed by a thorough physical exam. Blood cholesterol and blood sugar levels are an important indicator for coronary artery disease. Your doctor may request for a routine blood test to identify any abnormalities that guide the diagnosis. Apart from these routine tests, your doctor may suggest one or more of the following tests to confirm a heart disease:
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What Are The Symptoms Of Coronary Artery Disease
You may not know you have coronary artery disease since you may not have symptoms at first. The buildup of plaque in your arteries takes years to decades. But as your arteries narrow, you may notice mild symptoms that indicate your heart is pumping harder to deliver oxygen-rich blood to your body. The most common symptoms are chest pain or shortness of breath, especially after light physical activity like walking up stairs, but even at rest.
Sometimes you wont know you have coronary artery disease until you have a heart attack. Symptoms of a heart attack include:
- Chest discomfort described as heaviness, tightness, pressure, aching, burning, numbness, fullness, squeezing or a dull ache. The discomfort can also spread to or only be felt in your left shoulder, arms, neck, back or jaw.
- Feeling tired.
Symptoms of a heart attack in women can be slightly different and include:
- Discomfort or pain in the shoulders, neck, abdomen and/or back.
- Feeling of indigestion or heartburn.
- Unexplained anxiety.
- Cold sweat.
What Do Blood Pressure Numbers Mean
Blood pressure is measured using two numbers:
The first number, called systolic blood pressure, measures the pressure in your arteries when your heart beats.
The second number, called diastolic blood pressure, measures the pressure in your arteries when your heart rests between beats.
If the measurement reads 120 systolic and 80 diastolic, you would say, 120 over 80, or write, 120/80 mmHg.
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What Is A Heart Attack
A heart attack is a sudden loss of blood flow to the heart muscle. It usually happens when plaque deposits from atherosclerosis break open and cause a blood clot that clogs an already narrowed coronary artery and so limits or blocks blood flow.
Without enough oxygen, part of the heart muscle is injured and sometimes permanently damaged.
Complications Of High Blood Pressure
Long-standing high blood pressure can damage the heart and blood vessels and increase the risk of
The cause may be suggested by abnormal results of a physical examination or by the symptoms. For example, a bruit in the artery to a kidney may suggest renal artery stenosis Blockage of the Renal Arteries Gradual narrowing or sudden, complete blockage may affect arteries that supply the right or the left kidney, their branches, or a combination. Kidney failure or high blood… read more . Various combinations of symptoms may suggest high levels of the hormones epinephrine and norepinephrine produced by a pheochromocytoma Pheochromocytoma A pheochromocytoma is a tumor that usually originates from the adrenal glands chromaffin cells, causing overproduction of catecholamines, powerful hormones that induce high blood pressure and… read more . The presence of a pheochromocytoma is confirmed when the breakdown products of these hormones are detected in the urine. Other rare causes of high blood pressure may be detected by certain routine tests. For example, measuring the potassium level in the blood can help detect hyperaldosteronism Hyperaldosteronism In hyperaldosteronism, overproduction of aldosterone leads to fluid retention and increased blood pressure, weakness, and, rarely, periods of paralysis. Hyperaldosteronism can be caused by a… read more .
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Natural Prevention Methods Of Clogged Arteries
Dont think that a diagnosis of clogged arteries is a death sentence its not. Just because a doctor informs you that your arteries are clogged doesnt mean you cant start practicing healthier habits to reverse the damage. Here are some ways to unclog arteries naturally and prevent clogged arteries from forming again in the future.
- Eat or drink pomegranate seeds and juice
- Consume more whole grains
- Add spices to your meals
- Drink coffee for heart benefits
- Stick with olive oil
- Minimize animal protein consumption milk and eggs
- Stock up on fiber
- Stay hydrated and drink plenty of water
- Stop smoking
- Monitor and control your diabetes
- Monitor and control your hypertension
- Monitor and control your cholesterol
- Exercise
What Causes Clogged Arteries
Clogged arteries are caused by a buildup of plaque in your arteries. Plaque is usually made up of a few substances, including minerals like calcium, or fats and cholesterol. High cholesterol levels can lead to this buildup of plaques.
In some cases, high cholesterol is genetic, but it is mostly linked to diet and lifestyle choices.
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Does Vitamin D Clog Arteries
But in sufferers with insufficient vitamin D, immune cells bind to blood vessels near the guts, then entice cholesterol to block those blood vessels. Low levels of vitamin D in folks with diabetes appear to inspire ldl cholesterol to build up in arteries, sooner or later blocking the go with the flow of blood.
How Is Coronary Artery Disease Treated
Your healthcare provider will talk to you about the best treatment plan for you. Follow your treatment plan to reduce your risk of problems that can result from coronary artery disease, like heart attack and stroke.
Lifestyle changes
The first step in treating coronary artery disease is to reduce your risk factors. This involves making changes in your lifestyle.
- Dont smoke. If you smoke or use tobacco products, quit. Ask your healthcare providers about ways to quit, including programs and medications.
- Manage health problems like high cholesterol, high blood pressure and diabetes.
- Eat a heart-healthy diet. Talk to your healthcare provider or a registered dietitian about ways to change your diet to reduce your risk of heart disease. Good dietary choices include the Mediterranean and DASH diets.
- Limit alcohol use. Limit daily drinks to no more than one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men.
- Increase your activity level. Exercise helps you lose weight, improve your physical condition and relieve stress. Most people can reduce their risk of heart attack by doing 30 minutes of walking five times per week or walking 10,000 steps per day. Talk to your healthcare provider before you start any exercise program.
Medications
Your healthcare provider will recommend medications to best manage your risk factors for heart disease. Types of heart-related medications that may be selected for you include:
Procedures and surgery
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Classification Of Blood Pressure
Blood pressure in adults is classified as normal, elevated blood pressure, stage 1 hypertension, or stage 2 hypertension.
However, the higher the blood pressure, the greater the risk of complicationseven within the normal blood pressure rangeso these limits are somewhat arbitrary.
A hypertensive urgency is diastolic blood pressure that is more than 120 mm Hg but has not yet caused any organ damage that is apparent to people or their doctors. A hypertensive urgency usually does not cause symptoms.
A hypertensive emergency is a particularly severe form of high blood pressure. Diastolic blood pressure is at least 120 mm Hg, and there is evidence of progressive damage in one or more vital organs , often accompanied by a variety of symptoms. Hypertensive emergencies are uncommon, but they are several times more common among blacks than among whites, among men than among women, and among people in lower socioeconomic groups than among those in higher socioeconomic groups. If untreated, a hypertensive emergency can be fatal.
What Is Acute Coronary Syndrome
Acute coronary syndrome is the name given to types of coronary disease that are associated with a sudden blockage in the blood supply to your heart. Some people have symptoms before they have acute coronary syndrome, but you may not have symptoms until the condition occurs. Some people never have any symptoms. Changes caused by acute coronary syndrome can be seen on an electrocardiogram and in blood tests. Acute coronary syndrome is defined by the location of the blockage, length of time the artery is blocked and amount of damage and is defined as:
- Unstable angina: This may be a new symptom or can happen if you have stable angina that changes to unstable angina. You may start to have angina more often, when you are resting, or it may be worse or last longer. The condition can lead to a heart attack. If you have unstable angina, you will need medication, such as nitroglycerin or a procedure to correct the problem.
- Non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction : This is a type of heart attack that does not cause major changes on an ECG. But, a blood test will show that there is damage to your heart muscle.
- ST segment elevation myocardial infarction : This type of heart attack is caused by a sudden blockage of the blood supply to the heart.
These are life-threatening conditions that require emergency medical care.
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What Causes High Blood Pressure
High blood pressure usually develops over time. It can happen because of unhealthy lifestyle choices, such as not getting enough regular physical activity. Certain health conditions, such as diabetes and having obesity, can also increase the risk for developing high blood pressure. High blood pressure can also happen during pregnancy.
You can manage your blood pressure to lower your risk for serious health problems that may affect your heart, brain, kidneys, and eyes.
Checking For Pulses In Your Feet
The simplest test to screen for PAD is to have your physician check for the pulses in your feet during a routine physical exam. In each foot, there should be two pulses that are easily detected by a trained physician. This test is performed to determine whether the blood flow to your feet is normal.
The next step in screening is the ankle brachial index, which uses blood pressure cuffs on your arm and leg in combination with a Doppler probe, which uses an ultrasound wave, to help hear the pulse in the foot. Using this technology, we can better assess the blood flow to the area, Dr. Kirksey says. For most people, blood pressure in the foot should be similar to the blood pressure in the arm. A drop of as little as 10 percent in that pressure can be an indication of peripheral artery disease.
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A Closer Look At Cholesterol
One issue at play here, says Susan Besser, MD, a primary care and family medicine doctor with Mercy Personal Physicians in Overlea, Maryland, is that your total cholesterol number isnât the only number that matters.
âOne can have normal total cholesterol but high âbadâ cholesterol and low âgoodâ cholesterol,â she says. âThe excess bad cholesterol can cause plaque buildup and, over time, might cause blocked arteries.â
Inside the body, the low-density lipoprotein cholesterol is the one that can build up on the walls of the blood vessels and form plaque, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. HDL cholesterol, on the other hand, is the one that can absorb harmful cholesterol and carry it to the liver, where it then gets flushed from the body. This is why itâs not only important to have normal or low total cholesterol levels, but also healthy ranges of both HDL and LDL cholesterol.
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What Should I Expect During My Imaging Test
We will perform your test in our comfortable catheter laboratory. We will begin your treatment by cleaning your skin and injecting a local anesthetic called lidocaine into your anticipated access point. Your lidocaine injection will prevent you from feeling uncomfortable during the next step of your treatment.
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Which Artery Is The Commonest To Have Blockage
Although blockages can happen in other arteries resulting in the center, the LAD artery is where maximum blockages occur. Niess said about one-third of coronary heart disease sufferers have blockages in a single artery, about one-third have blockages in two arteries and one-third have blockages in all three arteries.
Diagnosing High Blood Pressure
The only way to find out whether you have high blood pressure is to have your blood pressure checked regularly. Ask your GP when you are next due for yours to be checked.
Before having your blood pressure taken, you should rest for at least five minutes and empty your bladder. To get an accurate blood pressure reading, you should be sitting down and not talking when the reading is taken.
Having one high blood pressure reading does not necessarily mean that you have high blood pressure. Your blood pressure can change throughout the day. Feeling anxious or stressed when you visit your GP can raise your blood pressure .
Therefore, your GP will need to take several readings over a set period of time, usually every month, to see whether your blood pressure level is consistently high.
Blood and urine tests may also be carried out in order to check for conditions that are known to cause an increase in blood pressure, such as kidney infections.
You may also be given a blood pressure device to take home so that you can record your blood pressure level throughout the day. This also helps to identify white coat syndrome and therefore helps to identify the best treatment options for you.
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