There are numerous people out there who suffer from coronary heart disease. This is among the most common conditions. Coronary heart disease is normally triggered by the fatty deposits that are formed on the arteries. The disease is hereditary, but it can also be caused by high cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, and cigarette smoke. Even though this is one of the most widespread diseases in the world, there is no actual cure for it. However, people can manage it with care, pills, and various procedures. Surgery is usually the last solution for coronary heart disease and it entails operations such as heart transplant, coronary artery bypass, and coronary angioplasty.
The last procedure is normally recommended to persons that suffer from atherosclerosis. This disease is caused by a blockage inside the artery. The plaque from the arterial walls is formed from fat and low – density lipoproteins that enter the bloodstream and harden. As a result, the arteries become less flexible and more rigid. Furthermore, atherosclerosis causes chest pains and angina because the blood flow does not get to the artery. If this condition remains untreated, it can cause heart attacks because it promotes the formation of blood clots.
Those who are about to undertake an angioplasty are usually supposed to go through tests such as electrocardiogram, blood tests, urinalysis and X – ray. Angioplasty is not suitable for all individuals. For example, patients that have the artery branched off by too numerous blocked vessels or that have blockages in narrow sections cannot undergo the procedure. A more suitable procedure in this case would be the coronary artery bypass.
The person who decides whether or not someone should have a coronary angioplasty is the doctor. If he sees that a patient has a coronary heart disease with blocked and narrow coronary arteries, then he is going to suggest angioplasty as one of the most successful and effective treatments for CHD. The other one is the coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) that implies connecting an affected coronary artery to a healthy vein or artery. The grafted vein or artery goes around the blocked coronary artery and allows the heart to receive more blood. This procedure is more complicated and it is recommended only when the disease is more serious.
Angioplasty has various advantages over the coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). First of all, there is no open – heart surgery when performing a coronary angioplasty. Second of all, the recovery time is very short. Thirdly, the procedure is not carried out under general anesthesia. Despite these advantages, it depends on what the medical practitioner decides. In some cases like severe coronary heart disease or poor function of the heart chambers, CABG is much more recommended. Thus, the patient must inform the doctor about all his / her conditions and medical background so as to establish which procedure is right for him / her. Additionally, those who suffered heart attacks can get a coronary angioplasty as an emergency cure that will make them feel a lot better.
