|
How to Treat Coronary Artery Disease
From your Guide
Half million people die every year of a heart attack caused
by Coronary Artery Disease (CAD). There are many options available to treat
the disease.
Difficulty Level:
Difficultylevelhere
Time Required:
Enter time required here
Here's How:
- Medical treatment[b] [/b]using drugs is often effective. Chest pain - angina
pectoris - caused by Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) is controlled with nitrates
and calcium channel blockers.
- When medical treatment is ineffective, more tests are done to identify
the severity of the disease. A stress Thallium scintigraphy, Echocardiogram
and Coronary Angiogram are most helpful.
- If CAD has involved only one or two arteries and the extent of disease
is limited, Angioplasty (PTCA) is a non-surgical intervention where a balloon
is used to dilate and open up obstructed arteries.
- In some cases, where the arteries are badly damaged, angioplasty is combined
with insertion of a Coronary Stent to keep the dilated artery open.
- When CAD is more extensive or severe, Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG)[b]
[/b]surgery may be necessary.
- In CABG, a vein or artery is used to bypass the diseased coronary artery,
restoring blood flow beyond the block.
- Some patients have extremely severe CAD that makes CABG difficult or impossible.
They can still be treated by Laser[b] [/b]Revascularization (TMLR), in which
a laser beam is used to bore holes into the heart walls through which blood
flows to the muscle.
- If even this fails, a Heart Transplant[b] [/b]is the only alternative.
- Exciting new developments in the field of Gene Therapy have led to clinical
trials. A genetically engineered virus is injected into the heart muscle,
which grows new arteries into diseased portions of the heart wall.
- Treatment of CAD however goes beyond just restoring blood flow to the heart.
Preventing further damage is an important corollary.
- Modification of risk factors like high blood pressure, high cholesterol,
diabetes, smoking, stress and physical inactivity can help prevent a recurrence.
Tips:
- Advances in treating CAD help extend benefits to most patients.
- There is a growing trend towards gene therapy for CAD.
- Prevention is still better than cure.
Related Information:
More How To's from your Guide
|
