Coronary heart disease (CHD) - definition, symptoms and co.

Coronary heart disease, also called CHD or chronic ischemic heart disease, is a disease of the cardiovascular system and can result in heart attacks. It is responsible for approximately one-third of all deaths in the Western world. CHD cannot be cured, but: patients can influence the course of their disease themselves and live well with it for a long time! How can this be done? By adopting a heart-healthy lifestyle, taking medication regularly, and having your blood values, blood pressure, etc. monitored by a doctor. This is how you can strengthen your heart.

Learn more about coronary heart disease (CHD) here!

Contents

What is CHD?

In the heart disease coronary heart disease (CHD), deposits (med. arteriosclerosis) form in the blood vessels leading to the heart (med. coronary arteries). This can be caused, for example, by high blood pressure (med. hypertension). Consequently, the heart can only be supplied with insufficient blood (med. myocardial ischemia, myocardial ischemia).

Recognize CHD symptoms

Common CHD symptoms are chest tightness (med. angina pectoris), shortness of breath (med. dyspnea) and cardiac arrhythmias (med. arrhythmias). If the chest tightness is particularly severe and sudden (med. unstable angina pectoris), this may be a sign of a heart attack. If you suspect a heart attack, immediately alert the emergency physician (112).

CHD therapy

You can do a lot for your heart with a heart-healthy lifestyle! This includes taking medications regularly, monitoring vital signs such as blood pressure, eating a heart-healthy diet, and exercising after a heart attack and with CHD. In some patients, interventions such as stent implantation or bypass surgery may also be necessary to support the heart.

CHD Definition - What does the word coronary mean?

The coronary heart disease (CHD), also called chronic ischemic heart disease or coronary artery disease, is a heart disease in which Deposits (med. Arteriosclerosis) in form the blood vessels leading to the heart (med. Coronary arteries). This can be e.g. due to high blood pressure (med. Hypertension) causes be

Consequently, the Herz only insufficiently supplied with blood be

The Follow a (untreated) coronary heart disease can be: Heart attack (med. myocardial infarction) or even sudden cardiac death respectively Heart failure.

And what does coronary mean at all? The medical term literally means "belonging to the coronary vessels".

What is the difference between CHD and heart attack?

A Heart attack (med. myocardial infarction) is a possible consequence the heart disease coronary heart disease (CHD). When by a CHD the Arteries increasingly more calcify (med. arteriosclerosis), and the calcifications except for the Expand coronary arteriesaffected persons often take a Chest tightness feeling (med. angina pectoris). Due to the increasing hardening of the arteries, iless and less blood through the Narrows to the heart (med. myocardial ischemia or myocardial ischemia). If the Coronary vessels completely blocked, heart muscle tissue dies - it comes to a Heart attack. The longer CHD remains untreated, the higher the risk of a heart attack. By the way: A Heart attack without CHD (med. MINOCA) is possible and meets approx. 6-9% of all heart attacks. Here, too, further investigations must be carried out to clarify the cause of the heart attacks. For example Cramps (med. spasms), such as those triggered by epileptic seizures, at a Narrowing of the coronary arteries and thus to the Heart attack guided have

CHD causes

A coronary heart disease (CHD) is often through a Lifestyle triggered, the the Heart loaded. These include Risk factors like a little heart healthy diet (e.g. high sugar, salt and unsaturated fats), consequences of Lack of exercise, Smoking and/or to much stress. A increased CHD risk however, can also be used by genetic factors or Pre-existing conditions such as an underactive thyroid gland (med. hypothyroidism) or Diabetes mellitus.

With the Vantis heart age test you can find out how old your heart is and test your heart health.

To the heart age test

What are the symptoms of CHD?

The first Signs of heart problems are often manifested by symptoms such as Chest tightness (med. angina pectoris), Shortness of breath (med. Dyspnea) or Cardiac arrhythmias (med. arrhythmia). Often these symptoms arouse the Suspicion of CHD. Women thereby show often other than the just mentioned, classic CHD symptoms. They are in many cases of symptoms that seem harmless at first, such as Insomnia or Nausea, affected. Learn more about "Coronary heart disease symptoms" in our articles!

As a general rule, you should always have complaints such as chest tightness clarified by a doctor. If chest tightness is particularly severe and sudden, it may be a sign of a heart attack. If you have an acute suspicion of a heart attack, call the emergency services immediately on 112.

CHD diagnosis

Coronary heart disease was diagnosed in 3.7 % of women and 6.0 % of men in Germany in 2015. But how to diagnose CHD? To diagnose CHD by a doctor, there are several methods. Your doctor can perform a CHD diagnosis by a Cardiac catheter examination or a Heart CT put He recognizes so narrowed and clogged arteries, can Your Check heart function and treat you in the best possible way.

The younger your heart is, all the more protected you are from cardiovascular incidents like a heart attack. With the Vantis heart age test you can find out how old your heart is and test your heart health.

To the heart age test

How does the doctor treat CHD?

Can you cure CHD? Unfortunately no. But the coronary heart disease can generally be treated well. If you have been diagnosed with CHD, your doctor will prescribe you a drug therapy for CHD usually various medications (e.g., antihypertensives). At regular intervals, it should also Determine important blood values. These include the LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and the Long-term glucose value HbA1c.

Some patients may also require procedures such as a Stent implantation or Bypass surgery necessary.

What can I do myself with CHD and how long can I live with CHD?

The most important part of the treatmentg of coronary heart disease - in addition to taking medication regularly - is a heart healthy lifestyle. These include Sport after heart attack and CHD, a heart healthy diet, a healthy use of cigarettes and alcohol, regular Blood pressure measurement and little stress for the heart. Take care of yourself and his lifestyle, can man with a CHD grow old!

That sounds like a lot? We want to help you! The Vantis heart app takes You on the hand and shows you, like You Your lifestyle step by step in a heart-healthy way. For example, you taste delicious Recipes for heart patients out and experienced, What sport for coronary heart disease is suitable. Also Capture You regularly use the most important values for heart patients (e.g. blood pressure) in one place. So you and your doctor keep track of your heart health!

Learn more about the Vantis Heart App

Some patients may also require procedures such as a Stent implantation or Bypass surgery necessary.

How do I succeed in changing my diet, heart healthy and delicious?

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Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) Overview - Cardiovascular Diseases. MSD Manual Profi-Ausgabe. https://www.msdmanuals.com/de-de/profi/herz-kreislauf-krankheiten/koronare-herzkrankheit/%C3%BCbersicht-zum-akuten-koronarsyndrom-acs (abgerufen am 01.09.2022).
Signs of a heart attack. healthinformation.com. https://www.gesundheitsinformation.de/anzeichen-eines-herzinfarkts.html (accessed Sept. 01, 2022).
MINOCA - Myocardial infarction without obstructive coronary disease.. springermedizin.de. https://www.springermedizin.de/koronare-herzerkrankung/thorakale-und-kardiale-radiologie/minoca-myokardinfarkt-ohne-obstruktive-koronarerkrankung/16206376 (accessed Sept. 01, 2022).
RKI - Journal of Health Monitoring - 12-month prevalence of coronary heart disease in Germany - Fact sheet - JoHM 1/2017. https://www.rki.de/DE/Content/Gesundheitsmonitoring/Gesundheitsberichterstattung/GBEDownloadsJ/FactSheets/JoHM_2017_01_gesundheitliche_lage4.html (accessed Sept. 01, 2022).
Humenberger M, Zielinski V; Lang IM. Gender-specific Aspects of Female CHD. Journal für Kardiologie - Austrian Journal of Cardiology 2008, 15 (9-10), 282-291.
How is CHD diagnosed?. Patient-Information.com. https://www.patienten-information.de/patientenleitlinien/khk/kapitel-5 (accessed Sept. 01, 2022).
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Coronary artery disease (CAD) - definition, symptoms and co.

At a glance

What is CHD?

Recognize CHD symptoms

CHD therapy

CHD Definition - What does the word coronary mean?