Coronary Heart Disease
What is Coronary Heart Disease?
Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) is a disease of the blood vessels where your vessels are narrowed which reduces the flow of blood in your heart. Coronary heart disease is formed by coronary arteries carrying blood with fatty deposits. The inner lining of the coronary arteries then fill up with fatty deposits from the blood which can then lead to it getting narrowed or being blocked up.
What can cause Coronary Heart Disease?
Coronary heart disease (CHD) is caused by a build-up of fatty deposits (also known as atheroma) on the walls of the coronary arteries which are located round the heart. The build-up of fatty deposits (atheroma) makes the arteries narrower, limiting the flow of blood to the heart muscle. This process is called atherosclerosis. If you do any of the following your risk of getting atherosclerosis is increased:
· Smoke
· Have high blood pressure
· Have a high blood cholesterol level
· Don’t exercise regularly
· Have diabetes
· Obesity
· If a family member has had CHD or currently has CHD.
Why is Coronary Heart Disease a problem?
CHD causes a lack of blood means that your heart is finding is finding it hard to respire which leads to having less oxygen delivered to your body which finally leads to loss of energy. After having loss of energy your heart would eventually stop so this means you have an increased chance of having a heart attack. It can also cause:
· Pain in your chest
· Shortness of breath
· Extreme fatigue with exertion
· Swelling in your feet
· Pain in your shoulder or arm.
Stents
What are stents?
A stent is a small mesh tube that is used to treat arteries that have become narrow due to a build-up of fatty deposits. A stent is placed in an artery as part of a procedure called percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), also known as coronary angioplasty. PCI restores blood flow through narrow or blocked arteries. Stents usually are made of metal mesh, but sometimes they're made of fabric. Fabric stents, also called stent grafts, are used in larger arteries.
How do they work?
An incision is made in the groin, and the stent, which is attached to a balloon catheter, is guided into the artery. Once it has reached the correct artery, the balloon is inflated so that the fatty deposit is compressed, and the lumen is now wider. Once the lumen has been opened, the balloon is deflated and pulled out and the stent is then put i...
