Coronary artery narrowing
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What happens in the body?
Because of the narrowing, less blood flows to the heart muscle. This can cause chest pain (angina), especially during physical exertion or stress. In severe cases, a sudden blockage of a coronary artery can lead to a heart attack.
Symptoms
Symptoms vary from person to person and can sometimes be vague. The following symptoms may occur:
- Pressing pain or a thight feeling in the chest
- Pain spreading to the arm, shoulder, jaw or back
- Shortness of breath
- Tiredness during physical activity
- Nausea or dizziness
Some people, especially women or people with diabetes, have less typical symptoms.
Risk factors
The following factors may increase the risk of coronary artery narrowing:
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Smoking
- Diabetes
- Overweight and obesity
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Family history
How is coronary artery narrowing treated?
To confirm coronary artery narrowing, the doctor usually performs a coronarography. During this examination, the blood vessels around the heart are visualised using contrast fluid and X-ray images. This allows the doctor to determine exactly whether a narrowing is present and how severe it is.
Treatment initially focuses on lifestyle changes such as a healthy diet, quitting smoking and increasing physical activity. Medication to control cholesterol, blood pressure or blood clotting may also help. If the coronarography shows that the narrowing is severe, a stent can sometimes be placed during the same examination. This stent keeps the blood vessel open permanently, allowing the heart to receive enough blood again.