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| Health Awareness - Angina Attack |
| » Which procedures are used to treat angina? | |
| » What is angina attack? | |
| » When does angina pectoris occur? | |
| » What drugs are used to treat angina pectoris? | |
| Which procedures are used to treat angina? | |
Invasive techniques that improve the blood supply to the heart also may be used. One of these is percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty, also known as P.T.C.A., angioplasty, and balloon dilation or balloon angioplasty. Another procedure is Coronary stent procedure in which a metal coil is inserted to keep the dilated artery open. Another procedure is coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Before performing either of these procedures, a doctor must find the blocked part of the coronary arteries. This is done using coronary arteriography, which is done during a procedure called cardiac catheterization. In this procedure a doctor guides a thin plastic tube (a catheter) through an artery in the arm or leg and into the coronary arteries. Then the doctor injects a liquid dye visible in x-rays through the catheter. High-speed x-ray movies record the course of the liquid as it flows through the arteries. Doctors can identify blockages in the arteries by tracing the liquid's flow. |
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| What is an angina attack? | |
Angina pectoris is the medical term for chest pain due to coronary heart disease. This is a condition in which the heart muscle doesn’t receive enough blood, resulting in pain in the chest. Angina is a symptom of a condition called myocardial ischemia. It occurs when the heart muscle doesn't get as much blood (hence as much oxygen) as it needs for a given level of work. Insufficient blood supply is called ischemia. |
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| When does angina pectoris occur? | |
Angina pectoris can occur when blood flow to the heart is enough for normal needs but not enough when the heart's needs increase. It may happen during physical exercise, strong emotions, or extreme temperatures. Running to catch a bus, for example, could trigger an attack of angina while walking to a bus stop might not. Some people, such as those with a coronary artery spasm, may have angina when they're resting. Angina is a sign that someone is at risk of heart attack. |
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| What drugs are used to treat angina pectoris? | |
Angina pectoris can be treated with drugs that affect 1) the supply of blood to the heart muscle or 2) the heart's demand for oxygen. An example of the first case is drugs called coronary vasodilators. These drugs cause blood vessels to relax. When this happens, the opening inside the vessels (the lumen) gets bigger. Then blood flow improves, allowing more oxygen and nutrients to reach the heart muscle. Nitroglycerin is the drug most often used. It relaxes the veins (reducing the amount of blood that returns to the heart and thus lessening the work of pumping) and the coronary arteries (increasing the blood supply to the heart). In the second case, the heart's demand for oxygen can also be modified. For example, a drug can be prescribed to reduce blood pressure. This will reduce the heart's workload and need for oxygen, by lowering resistance to flow. Drugs that slow the heart rate achieve a similar effect. |
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Copyright © 2005. KRISHNA Heart and Super Specialty Institute, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India. Not to be copied or reproduced in any form or medium, Disclaimer |