Coronary heart disease
Coronary heart disease is one of the most common heart diseases worldwide.
Coronary heart disease is a disease of the coronary arteries. Deposits (fat, calcium and thrombi) cause a narrowing of the blood vessels. The result is a lack of blood flow in the heart muscle, which brings with it the risk of a subsequent heart attack or heart failure (cardiac insufficiency). Attack-like chest pain (angina pectoris) is typical of coronary heart disease.
The optimal treatment strategy for patients with coronary heart disease depends on the symptoms and stage of the heart disease. In complex cases, the treatment strategy - particularly with regard to treatment using catheter procedures versus bypass surgery - is discussed individually by our expert team of interventional cardiologists, cardiac surgeons and anesthetists.
Coronary vessels
The coronary arteries are the arteries that run through the heart. They are the "fuel lines" of the heart and supply it with oxygen and nutrients. If the coronaries are diseased, this is known as coronary heart disease.
The term covers all diseases caused by arteriosclerosis, for example by deposits of fat, calcium or thrombi in the blood vessels. Coronary heart disease is caused by a narrowing of the coronary arteries.
As a result, blood flow is reduced and the heart muscle lacks oxygen and nutrients. Constrictions are referred to as stenoses. The narrower the stenosis, the faster the patient feels the typical chest discomfort during exertion.
A sudden complete occlusion leads to a heart attack (death of an area of heart muscle) with possible life-threatening complications such as arrhythmia, cardiac insufficiency or sudden cardiac death.
Symptoms
The symptoms of coronary heart disease include
- Angina pectoris (pressure-like/pinching pain in the chest area radiating into the left arm)
- Drop in performance and breathing difficulties
- Sweating and fear
- Cardiac arrhythmia and loss of consciousness
- Heart failure (cardiac insufficiency)
Causes
Coronary heart disease is a chronic disease. It begins early with fatty deposits in the arteries and progresses over the years.
Risk factors include high blood cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, diabetes mellitus (diabetes), a family history of diabetes, obesity and smoking!
Diagnosis
The diagnosis of coronary heart disease takes place in several stages and involves a wide variety of methods. The targeted medical history and examination by the doctor represents the first stage and already provides important indications of possible heart disease. Other possible diagnostic methods are
- Electrocardiogram (ECG): resting and exercise ECG
- Echocardiography (ultrasound examination of the heart), including a stress test
- Computed tomography of the heart (cardio-CT), magnetic resonance imaging of the heart (C-MRI), cardiac scintigraphy
- Cardiac catheter examination (probing the heart with catheters via inguinal or arm vessels)
Our expertise in coronary heart disease
Planning and arranging all clarification methods and advice on therapy options
Advice and support for a change in diet and lifestyle
Drug therapies to get complaints and risk factors under control
Coronary angiography (X-ray examination of the coronary vessels)
Stent Implantation (PCI)
Bypass Surgery
Our specialists for coronary heart disease
Interventional Cardiology