Am I likely to have coronary artery disease?

Several risk factors increase the chance of having it. However even if you don’t have any of the following it could still happen to you. The risks include:

• Smoking
• Diabetes
• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Heart problems in the family

Treatment of coronary artery disease

This consists of medications to protect the heart and its blood vessels. Some patients will require blood thinning and cholesterol treatment. Some patients will need angiograms to find the blockages and “unblock them” with stents.

Heart failure

Heart failure happens when the heart is not pumping properly. Many

diseases can cause heart failure, including blocked arteries, high blood

 pressure, excess alcohol, and heart valve diseases (age related or

rheumatic fever).

Main symptoms include tiredness and breathlessness on exertion.

Treatment of heart failure

Medications are key. These may be started and monitored by both your cardiologist and GP.

Cardiac arrhythmias: (“abnormal heart beats”)

A complex electric system within the heart muscle controls the heart beats. A number of conditions affect heart rate and/or rhythm making it too fast, too slow or too irregular. Different tablets will be used for different conditions. ECG (heart traces) and echocardiograms (ultrasound tests) help guide treatment.

Valve disease

Heart valves ensure blood flows the right way through the heart. Conditions can make these valves too narrow (not opening properly) or leaky (not closing properly). This may result in the heart pump not working properly (heart failure).

ECG and Echo guide treatment that can be with medications and surgeries in severe cases.