Who is at risk for coronary artery disease?

Coronary artery disease, also known as myocardial ischemia, is a condition in which the lumen of the blood vessels is partially narrowed or blocked, limiting the blood flow to nourish the heart. If not detected promptly, coronary artery disease can lead to a more dangerous condition, which is complete blockage of the lumen and possible myocardial necrosis. In Vietnam, coronary artery disease is increasing and getting younger, causing serious impacts on the health of patients.

People at risk for coronary artery disease

Coronary artery disease is caused by the deposition of fats such as cholesterol, which are located along the walls of the arteries, called atherosclerotic plaques. This means that there is a narrowing of the artery wall caused by the thickening of the fat deposits, which can even cause blockage. Because the coronary arteries supply oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle, if the blockage is not treated, it can be very dangerous, leading to a heart attack or even death. There are many causes that can cause narrowing or blockage of one or more coronary arteries, including risk factors such as: Old age (men over 50 and women over 55), men are at higher risk than women, family factors, smoking, obesity, lack of exercise, high blood pressure, diabetes, dyslipidemia, stress...

Signs of recognition

Angina is the most basic and important sign to recognize coronary artery disease. The pain feels tight, constricted, pressed or sometimes just feels like there is something uncomfortable in the chest. The common location of pain is behind the sternum, in the middle of the chest or in the heart area. The pain can be local or spread to the neck, jaw, shoulder or left arm, in rare cases spreading to the back or spine. The pain is usually very short, only 10-30 seconds or a few minutes; if the pain lasts more than 15 minutes, there is a possibility of a heart attack.

The disease includes 3 pathological forms such as:

Stable angina: This is a condition that has not worsened in recent weeks. The clinical condition is usually stable, the angina attacks are short, occur during exertion, and are relieved by rest.

Angina is the most important sign to recognize coronary artery disease.

Unstable angina: Is a clinical instability, angina appears more often and lasts longer, even when the patient is resting. Unstable angina can lead to myocardial infarction or stabilize to become stable angina. Symptoms of angina are when the patient feels like being squeezed in the middle of the chest, the angina pain will spread to the patient's chin and shoulders, the patient is easily frightened and sweats... However, sometimes it is just a feeling of discomfort in the chest area.

Myocardial infarction: Is a condition of complete blockage of the coronary artery rapidly causing necrosis of the myocardial area behind the nourishing part of the blocked coronary artery. The mechanism of myocardial infarction is somewhat similar to that of unstable angina, due to the rupture of atherosclerotic plaque and causing thrombosis that completely blocks the coronary artery.

Prevention of coronary artery disease

A healthy lifestyle can help limit the progression of coronary artery disease. Lifestyle changes are a long-term solution, and the most effective is still changing bad habits as well as controlling risk factors to help improve the quality of life. Control physical activity, unhealthy eating habits, limit alcohol consumption, quit smoking and avoid secondhand smoke, control associated diseases well to have a more comfortable and healthier life, specifically:

Build a peaceful, happy lifestyle, avoid excessive stress, especially stress; implement a moderate living and working regime, and arrange work reasonably. People with coronary artery disease are often advised not to smoke, not to eat salty foods, and not to eat too much starch.

Good food for people at high risk of coronary artery disease.

It is necessary to have a suitable diet, the main nutritional components of people with cardiovascular disease include whole grains, beans, nuts and vegetables. You should eat a lot of vegetables and fruits, especially dark green, yellow and red leafy vegetables. Vegetables and fruits contain many vitamins and other antioxidants, especially vitamins C, E, A, B2, B6, folic acid... It is worth noting that, to balance the diet, by reducing red meat (beef, buffalo, wild animal meat) and replacing it with white meat (chicken, goose, fish). Do not eat animal fat that causes increased cholesterol which is harmful to the body, you should use vegetable oil.

Do not drink too much alcohol, beer and other stimulants. Every day, you need to exercise, moderate physical activity suitable for your health. For cardiovascular disease, regular exercise is better than high-intensity exercise. The simplest way is to walk 30 minutes a day in the morning or evening at least 5 times a week. Walking on a treadmill, jogging or going outdoors are all effective. At the same time, it is necessary to detect and treat diseases related to coronary artery disease such as diabetes, lipid disorders, high blood pressure, obesity - overweight. In addition, you should do relaxation and health exercises for 15 to 20 minutes each time, 1-2 times a day to help create relaxation responses and maintain an optimistic spirit and confidence...

Practicing these things well can not only prevent and treat angina but also help strengthen the immune system, improve health and enhance quality of life.

Doctor's advice
Unstable angina is very dangerous if not treated promptly because it can easily turn into a heart attack. People with angina do not need absolute rest but need to limit physical and mental work, avoid exertion, especially sudden exertion, walking fast, going uphill, going up stairs..., avoid cold, avoid drafts, do not bathe at night, live moderately, have a rest time, avoid working right after meals. Do not smoke because cigarettes are the cause of pain, limit strong coffee and strong tea because it can cause insomnia.

According to Health and Life