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Understanding Coronary Artery
Disease
What is coronary artery disease?
Coronary artery disease is a narrowing or blockage of the coronary arteries, the arteries that provide the heart muscle with blood. When the blood flow is slowed the heart does not get enough oxygen and nutrients. As blocks in an arteries progress the body tries to compensate by increasing blood flow by expanding tiny vessels (collaterals). However development of collateral circulation is gradual and may not be enough. Insufficient blood to the heart muscle results in chest pain (angina) or heart attack (injury to the heart muscle).which may be fatal.
What causes the coronary arteries to narrow?
Coronary arteries become narrowed or clogged by plaque build-up in the artery walls. Plaque is made of excessive cholesterol and other substances floating through your bloodstream, such as inflammatory cells, proteins and calcium. Over time, the inside of the arteries develop plaques of different sizes. Many of the plaque deposits are hard on the outside and soft on the inside. The hard surface can crack or tear, exposing the soft, fatty inside. When this happens, platelets (disc-shaped particles in the blood that aid clotting) come to the area, and blood clots form around the plaque. The artery narrows further and, in turn, less room for blood to flow through the arteries. Plaque build-up in the arteries is called atherosclerosis (atha-row-skla-row-sis), also known as "hardening of the arteries."
What should you do if you have coronary heart disease?
When you have coronary artery disease, it is important to take care of your heart. This is especially true if you have had an interventional procedure or surgery to improve blood flow to the heart. Procedures do not cure coronary artery disease. It is up to you to take steps to stop the disease from progressing.
1. Know the symptoms for coronary artery disease
The symptoms for coronary artery disease include:
• Chest discomfort (described as numbness, heaviness, dull aching, or burning; may radiate to left shoulder, arms neck, back or jaw) 
• Shortness of breath
• Palpitations (a fluttering feeling, skipped beats)
• Faster heart rate
• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Extreme weakness
Call your doctor if symptoms become more frequent or severe.
Call for emergency assistance if rest and / or medications do not relieve symptoms within 15 minutes. DO NOT WAIT TO GET HELP.
2. Reduce your risk factors
Medical research has helped identify certain conditions, called risk factors, which place people at increased risk for heart disease.
Non-modifiable risk factors (those that cannot be changed)
• Male
• Older age - Heart disease is more likely to occur, as you get older.
• Family history (including race)
Modifiable risk factors (those you can control)
• Cigarette smoking
• High blood cholesterol
• High blood pressure
• Uncontrolled diabetes
• Physical inactivity
• Obesity or overweight
• Uncontrolled stress or anger
• Diet high in saturated fat and cholesterol
• Drinking too much alcohol
sedentary stressful lifestyle
If you have more than two of the risk factors listed, you should discuss your risk factors with your doctor. Your goal is to decrease your risk factors and lessen your risk for future heart disease events. This is true if you do not have heart or blood vessel disease, if you are being treated medically for heart or blood vessel disease, or you have undergone a procedure (angioplasty, stents, bypass surgery) for heart or blood vessel disease.
3. Take your medications
Medications are used to control your symptoms and help your heart work more efficiently. Follow your doctor's instructions when you take your medications.
It is important to know:
• The names of your medications
• What they are for
• How often and at what times to take your medications
Keep a list of your medications and bring them to each of your doctor visits. If you have questions about your medications, ask your doctor.
4. Have treatment procedures if necessary
Non-invasive and invasive procedures are available for treatment. In our opinion non-invasive treatment being safe and effective should be tried before opting for invasive and surgical procedures. Where non-invasive treatments fail angioplasty (ballooning and stent) and bypass surgery is always possible. Those patients who respond to non-invasive treatments can be saved from the invasive and surgical procedures.
 Non-invasive procedures - These include:
- Artery Clearance Therapy (ACT) / Chelation Therapy
- External Counter Pulsation (ECP).
Invasive procedure – This includes angioplasty – ballooning, stenting and rota-ablation.
Surgical Procedure – This is coronary artery bypass surgery.
These procedures increase blood supply to your heart but they are not a cure for coronary artery disease. There is always need to focus on reducing the risk factors to prevent future disease development or progression. If these procedures are or have been necessary.
5. See your doctor regularly
Schedule regular appointments with the doctor (even if there are no symptoms). The appointments may be spaced once a year, or more often, if the doctor feels the need to be followed more closely. The appointments should include a medical exam and diagnostic studies (such as an electrocardiogram).
Call your doctor sooner if your symptoms worsen or become more severe or frequent.
The Sibia Medical Centre doctors specialize in the treatment of coronary artery disease non-invasively – without anaesthesia, without wires and stents, without surgery, without discomfort successfully. The team approach at the Sibia Medical Centre ensures that patients receive the best care before, during and after their procedure.
For more information about coronary artery disease and non-invasive treatments please contact the Sibia Medical Centre at 98140-34818 or e-mail at
info@sssibia.com. We would be happy to answer your questions.
Are we against Surgery?
No, all surgery should be preserved for patients with crippling
disease who do not respond to more conservative
treatments and we should think of surgery
only when all other safer treatments fail
– Dr.Sibia
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