What are the common types of coronary artery disease?

The article is professionally consulted by Master, Doctor Pham Van Hung - Department of Medical Examination & Internal Medicine - Vinmec Danang International General Hospital.

Coronary artery disease is the common name for a group of diseases related to coronary arteries - the only blood vessels to nourish the heart muscle, it can be coronary atherosclerosis, coronary insufficiency, coronary insufficiency. Coronary artery disease is divided into many types of disease, each with different symptoms and dangers.

Risk factors for coronary artery disease, including:
High blood pressure Dyslipidemia Diabetes Smoking Family history of early heart disease (men before 55 years old and women before 65 years old) Age high

Coronary artery disease usually includes 3 types of disease as follows:
Stable angina Stable angina is a common form of chest pain in coronary artery disease. Called "stable" because it is often similar in appearance in each occurrence. Specifically, pain usually only occurs when performing strenuous activities such as playing sports, carrying heavy loads, climbing stairs... or when under psychological stress, in some cases may appear. when the ambient temperature drops suddenly. This pain usually subsides with rest or with vasodilators.
Patients often describe with pain or discomfort in the chest, just below the breastbone, feeling like the heart is being squeezed or being pressed by a very heavy object. The pain may radiate to the neck, shoulders, jaw, back, arms. In stable angina, it may also be accompanied by symptoms such as shortness of breath, nausea, fatigue, sweating, or nervousness.
Stable angina can occur at any time of the day. However, the morning is when stable angina attacks are most likely to occur.
Stable angina if not treated well can progress to unstable angina, at which time the risk of myocardial infarction is very high. Therefore, patients need to be treated very aggressively and the most effective way is to combine all the above solutions.
Unstable angina Unlike stable angina, which is caused by plaque, narrows the coronary arteries and reduces blood flow to the heart, the pain only appears when the patient exerts itself and decreases or completely disappears. pain at rest. Unstable angina (acute coronary syndrome) is when a plaque ruptures suddenly, causing a blood clot or debris to block blood flow to the heart, causing angina, but not causing damage. in the heart muscle. However, it is a premise for a future heart attack.
Similar to stable angina, unstable angina also has typical symptoms such as: left-sided throbbing pain, which may radiate to the left arm or to the back of the breastbone. Sometimes, the pain manifests itself in the neck or jaw. Patients may experience indigestion, bloating, nausea, palpitations, shortness of breath, dizziness, and profuse sweating. However, unstable angina is often more severe, persistent, and sudden than stable angina.
Specifically, angina which is considered unstable is usually characterized by the following manifestations:
Pain not related to exertion, often present even at rest, under stress, weather changes it happens in the middle of the night or in the morning. The pain usually lasts more than 15 minutes, does not subside with rest, and does not respond to vasodilators like stable angina.

Myocardial infarction Myocardial infarction is a condition in which a coronary artery (CVD) is completely occluded, rapidly causing necrosis of the myocardium behind the nourishing portion of the blocked coronary artery. The mechanism of myocardial infarction is somewhat similar to that of unstable angina, which is caused by the rupture of atherosclerotic plaque and causing thrombosis to completely block the coronary artery.
The most typical symptom of a heart attack is angina pectoris. The pain makes the patient feel like an invisible hand is squeezing the heart, compressing the chest. It can spread down the jaw, shoulder, neck, left arm... a few minutes and repeat many times. However, there are cases of myocardial infarction but there are no symptoms of chest pain, but instead are signs that are easily confused with other diseases, causing patients to often ignore, including:
This case is also known as silent myocardial infarction, common in women, the elderly, long-term diabetes... Therefore, when you encounter any of the above symptoms, be alert. with a heart attack and need to quickly go to the doctor for timely treatment.

If you have symptoms of the disease, you should see a doctor to do necessary tests such as:
Routine electrocardiogram (ECG) is a simple test to help diagnose the disease. Blood tests: Cardiac enzymes present in the blood may be normal or elevated in myocardial infarction. Echocardiography: is often helpful in the diagnosis and imaging of regional movement disorders (if any), evaluation of left ventricular function (especially after myocardial infarction) and associated valvular disorders or helps for physicians to differentiate from other diseases. Stress testing is a method of recording changes in your heart during strenuous activity (if indicated). Your doctor may order a cardiac catheterization and coronary angiography. This is the best and most modern method for diagnosing coronary artery disease because it allows the doctor to see exactly which coronary arteries are narrowed or blocked under the bright fluorescent screen. The coronary examination package at Vinmec provides patients with the benefits of examination, testing, ultrasound, X-ray, etc., the doctor will base on the results and give advice or treatment protocol. scientific disease.

Some effective ways to prevent coronary artery disease:
Healthy diet, low in saturated fat, cholesterol and trans fats. Limit salt, sugar, and alcohol. Increase vegetables, fruits and should eat at least 2 fish meals a week. Take time to rest after eating, should divide into many small meals during the day, instead of 3 full meals.

Don't smoke: The nicotine in cigarettes increases the risk of plaque formation, blood clots, and artery spasms. Exercise regularly every day to promote heart health. Stress can hurt your heart. Keep your mind at ease, reduce stress and stress with slow breathing, meditation or yoga... If you know in advance that a job or action can cause angina, do it slowly. loose and gentle. Avoid climbing stairs or lifting heavy objects. Take a nitroglycerin tablet before starting an strenuous activity that can cause angina, such as walking, climbing a hill, having sex...Call your doctor as soon as you have pain. sudden, severe chest tightness while sleeping or resting.