Did you know heart attacks can be prevented? Yes, before a heart attack happens many will develop coronary artery disease first. This is the pivotal time to take action, if not sooner, to make changes in your life.
Although coronary artery disease can’t be cured, it can be managed. From lifestyle changes, medications and even surgical procedures, it can all be succeeded through with the correct treatments in place.
So, what are your options if you have CAD? According to Medical News Today, here are nine options:
1. Statins: These are the only medications demonstrated to have a positive impact on outcomes in CHD, but if a person has another underlying cholesterol disorder, they may not work.
2. Low-dose aspirin: This reduces blood clotting, lowering the risk of
angina or a heart attack.
3. Beta blockers: May be used to reduce blood pressure and heart rate, especially in a person who has already had a heart attack.
4. Nitroglycerin patches, sprays, or tablets: These control chest pain by reducing the heart’s demand for blood by widening the coronary arteries.
5. Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors: These lower blood pressure and help to slow or stop the progression of CHD.
6. Calcium channel blockers: This will widen the coronary arteries, allowing greater blood flow to the heart, and reduce hypertension.
7. Laser surgery: This involves making several tiny holes in the heart muscle, which encourage the formation of new blood vessels.
8. Coronary bypass surgery: The surgeon uses a blood vessel from
another part of the body to create a graft that can bypass the blocked artery. The graft may come from the leg or an inner chest-wall artery.
9. Angioplasty and stent placement: A catheter is inserted into the narrowed part of the artery. A deflated balloon is passed through the catheter to the affected area. When the balloon is inflated, it compresses the fatty deposits against the artery walls.
A stent, or mesh tube, may be left in the artery to help keep it open. Rarely, a heart transplant may be carried out, if the heart is badly damaged and treatment is not working.
Are you seeking more information about your treatment options? Consult with your doctor and find out more about coronary artery disease on our Health Conditions tab on BlackDoctor.org.
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