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How ischemic heart disease can cause further complications?

How ischemic heart disease can cause further complications?

Introduction

Over a period of seventeen years, the mortality of ischemic heart disease increased in India by a staggering 81 percent. The escalating prevalence of the condition makes it important to understand more about the disease, and the possible complications from the disease. Let’s understand more details about the condition.

Quick outline of CAD heart disease

The condition refers to limited flow of blood in the coronary arteries. This is due to build up of plaque comprising cholesterol and other substances in the lining of the coronary arteries. This happens over a period of time and when the blockage or narrowing is at an advanced stage it begins causing complications.

CAD is known as a silent killer, mainly because the symptoms develop slowly, steadily without the individual being aware of any changes. Though many people consider ischemic heart disease and CAD as the same conditions, they are essentially not the same. CAD refers to blockage or narrowing in the coronary artery, while ischemic heart disease refers to reduced blood flow and oxygen to the heart muscle, the myocardium.

There are two main types of CAD:

  •  Stable ischemic heart disease – which is the chronic condition. 
  •   Acute coronary syndrome – which is sudden or acute condition, that could result in an emergency like a heart attack.

Main symptoms of CAD include:

  •   Stable angina – temporary pain in the chest or discomfort. 
  •   Difficulty breathing – during some kind of physical activity.

What causes coronary artery disease?

CAD is primarily caused by atherosclerosis, the gradual buildup of plaque, comprising cholesterol, waste products, calcium and fibrin. Plaque clogs and damages arteries, affecting oxygen and nutrients delivery to the heart.

Are there genetic reasons for CAD?

In some cases, CAD can be safely called as a genetically inherited condition, though it is not the case in all patients. Family history will affect your risk of CAD, though there are other contributing factors as well for people who are genetically predisposed to the condition

What are the different options for coronary heart disease treatment?

Treatment for coronary heart disease requires a combination of actions. For instance, lifestyle changes can reduce risk of further episodes. Quitting smoking is mandatory after a heart attack, while dietary modifications are also necessary. Apart from some kind of regular physical activity, it will also be necessary to rely on medications.

Some of the commonly prescribed medications include:

  •   Blood-thinners – to reduce the risk of a heart attack by thinning the blood and preventing clotting.
  •  Statins – to lower cholesterol by reducing production of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in the liver.
  •   Beta blockers – to treat angina and high blood pressure, by blocking the effects of specific hormones in the body. This slows down the heartbeat and improve flow of blood.
  •  Nitrates – to relax blood vessels, allowing more blood to pass, lowering blood pressure and offering relief from pain. 
  •  Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors – to treat high blood pressure.
  •  Angiotensin-2 receptor blockers – that work in a manner similar to ACE inhibitors.
  •  Calcium channel blockers – to reduce blood pressure by relaxing the muscles on the walls of arteries.
  •   Diuretics – to eliminate excess water and salt from the body.

Procedures as treatment  

In some cases, it may be necessary to opt for procedures or surgery to open up or bypass blocked arteries. Procedures include the following:

  •  Coronary angioplasty – involves the insertion of a small balloon to move the fatty tissue outwards. This permits unrestricted flow of blood.  A metal stent is also placed in the artery, in some cases to keep the artery open.  
  •   Coronary artery bypass graft – involves the grafting of a blood vessel between the main artery and a part of the coronary artery to bypass the narrowed area.

·   Heart transplant – involves replacing a damaged heart with a healthy heart from a donor

What is the ICD 10 code for ischemic heart disease?

The International Classification of Diseases, known popularly as ICD-10 is a globally recognized system of the WHO. This is to classify all diagnoses, symptoms, and procedures regarding hospital care. The structure of ICD-10 codes is as follows:

  •   Alphanumeric format – The code starts with a letter followed by digits.  
  •   Chapters, Categories – The codes are divided into categories based on different body systems and diseases.

The ICD-10 code for ischemic heart disease is I25. This is a category that covers ischemic heart disease with codes for specific conditions:

I25.1: This refers to atherosclerotic heart disease related to native coronary artery

I25.2: This refers to any old myocardial infarction

I25.5: This refers to ischemic cardiomyopathy

I25.6: This refers to silent myocardial ischemia

I25.7: This refers to atherosclerosis of coronary artery bypass graft, and coronary artery of transplanted heart.

I25.9: This refers to chronic ischemic heart disease when it is not clearly specified.

The best way to define ischemic heart disease?

The condition refers to weakened heart due to reduced blood flow to the heart. This is usually as a result of coronary artery disease due to narrowing of the artery. Ischemic heart disease is also called cardiac ischemia or ischemic cardiomyopathy.

When the heart weakens, it makes the heart to work harder to pump blood to the body. As a result, there is an increased risk of blood clots, heart valve disease or heart failure. There could also be possible abnormal heart rhythms and other complications. Treatment focuses on ensuring that proper blood flow is restored to reduce the risk of a heart attack.  

Symptoms commonly linked to ischemic heart disease experienced when the condition aggravates includes the following: 

  • Pain in the chest.
  • Dizzy feeing.
  • A fluttering sensation in the heart or possible skipped heart beats.
  • Difficulty breathing.
  • Swollen feet

What is the role of genetic testing in heart disease?

Genetic testing allows a person to check for possibility of future risk of heart disease from genetic reasons. Advanced genetic testing facilities in Tamil Nadu help you to understand your risk even before the onset of symptoms or before any actual cardiovascular event. A simple saliva sample or blood sample is all that is required for the testing and analysis.

October 11, 2024 cardiovascular health , , ,