Coronary Heart Disease Overview

The most common type of heart disease globally, often leading to premature death.

Chest pain caused by temporary lack of oxygen to the heart muscle.

A condition where angina occurs consistently under certain predictable conditions, like exertion.

A more serious form of angina where chest pain occurs unexpectedly and without exertion, even at rest.

Death of heart muscle due to complete blockage of a coronary artery, usually caused by a blood clot.

Impairment of heart function due to damage or lack of oxygen.

Abnormal heart rhythms that can be caused by coronary heart disease.

Sudden and unexpected death caused by heart problems, often related to MI or arrhythmia.

A type of cholesterol that carries cholesterol from the liver to the body's cells.

A type of cholesterol that removes excess cholesterol from the bloodstream and returns it to the liver for processing.

A type of fat found in the blood. High levels can increase the risk of heart disease.

A diagnostic test that measures the electrical activity of the heart while the patient is resting.

A diagnostic test that measures the electrical activity of the heart during exercise.

A diagnostic test that uses radioactive tracers to assess blood flow to the heart muscle.

A diagnostic test that uses ultrasound to assess the heart's structure and function during exercise.

A medical procedure in which a thin, flexible tube called a catheter is inserted into an artery in the leg or arm and threaded to the heart. Dye is injected into the coronary arteries, allowing doctors to see the arteries on an X-ray.

A procedure used to open blocked or narrowed coronary arteries. A small balloon is inserted into the artery and inflated to open the blockage, allowing blood to flow more freely.

A surgical procedure that involves grafting a healthy blood vessel from another part of the body onto a coronary artery to bypass a blockage.

A category of drugs that help to prevent blood clots from forming. These drugs are often used to prevent heart attacks and strokes.

A class of drugs that help lower cholesterol levels in the blood. They are often used to prevent heart attacks and strokes.

A medication that reduces pain, often used for pain relief after a heart attack.

A medication that prevents or relieves nausea and vomiting. It can be used to manage side effects of other medications.

A process that aims to restore blood flow to the heart muscle after a heart attack. It can be done through primary PCI or thrombolysis.

Another complication after a heart attack, caused by reduced blood supply to the heart muscle.

A type of medication that helps to reduce blood pressure and the workload on the heart. It's often used to prevent complications after a heart attack.

A type of medication that helps to widen blood vessels, improving blood flow to the heart. It's used to treat angina and reduce chest pain.

A thrombus forms at the site of a ruptured or eroded atheromatous plaque in a coronary artery, blocking blood flow and causing heart muscle death.

Pain that is usually more severe and lasts longer than angina, often described as tightness, heaviness, or constriction in the chest.

ST elevation is the earliest ECG change, followed by R wave reduction, Q wave development, and T wave inversion.

Creatine kinase (CK) and its cardiospecific isoform CK-MB, as well as troponins T and I, are all elevated in the blood following a heart attack.

Immediate access to medical care, defibrillation facilities, high-flow oxygen, IV access, ECG monitoring, and analgesia are essential for patients with suspected acute MI.

Patients are usually managed in a dedicated cardiac unit because it allows for specialized expertise, monitoring, and resuscitation facilities.

Calcium channel blockers (verapamil or diltiazem) can be used if a beta-blocker is contraindicated. If pain persists, intravenous nitrates may be needed.

Coronary angiography and revascularization are considered for all patients at moderate or high risk of myocardial infarction.