Tips on prevention and control of coronary heart disease

Early symptoms of coronary heart disease (CHD)

1. CHD patients easily suffer pain in the posterior sternum or precordial area, accompanied by pain in left shoulder. The symptoms will ease after a rest.

2. Patients with CHD may have feelings of palpitation, shortness of breath, fatigue and dyspnea when doing physical activities or in public places, and recurrent arrhythmia, tachycardia or bradycardia.

3. Early symptoms are accompanied with chest palpitations and tightness when eating excessively or in cold weather.

4. The early symptoms of coronary heart disease may include onset of long-term left shoulder pain and are not easily cured.

5. In the early stage, the patient clearly displays the phenomena of chest tightness and palpitations, breathing difficulty and so on.

How do you know if you suffer from CHD?

1. A diagnosis of coronary heart disease usually depends on typical clinical symptoms, such as sudden chest pain during agitation. The pain usually begins behind the sternum in the pre-cardiac area. It also radiates to the left shoulder, and even to the little finger, the ring finger, etc. Symptoms will be alleviated after taking oral nitroglycerin.

2. Angina pectoris is the main clinical symptom; its presence is highly indicative of coronary heart disease. In addition, if the angina sustains for a long time at the time of myocardial infarction, nausea, vomiting, sweating, fever, cyanosis, a drop in blood pressure, shock, and even heart failure will occur.

3. A diagnosis of coronary heart disease depends on auxiliary examination. Electrocardiogram is the most common and simplest method. Radionuclide myocardial imaging, echocardiogram, hematological examination, coronary CT, coronary arteriongraphy and intravascular imaging techniques are other diagnostic methods of CHD.

4. Patient with coronary heart disease should carry nitroglycerin tablets and Suxiao Jiuxin pills, and quickly take them under the tongue when angina pectoris happens.

What emergency measures should be taken for an angina pectoris attack?

1. Rest and breathe oxygen if condition permits.

2. Take nitroglycerin or isosorbide dinitrate quickly. If symptoms are not alleviated, repeat after 5-10 minutes.

3. Family members should stay calm and motions should be gentle and fast when undertaking an emergency rescue. Unrelated surrounding personnel should be minimized. Keep the environment quiet. The patient should be kept warm and free from irritation.

4. Move the patient or send him to the hospital after his condition stabilizes.

5. If the condition is not controlled by the above methods, be on guard against the occurrence of unstable angina pectoris, which can easily develop into acute myocardial infarction. Contact a hospital immediately.

How to prevent Myocardial Infarction (MI)?

MI is a critical symptom of coronary heart disease. It refers to acute, persistent ischemia and hypoxia occlusion of the coronary artery and the interruption of blood flow, which can lead to severe and lasting ischemia of the myocardium supplied by the artery. It can cause myocardial necrosis in 20 or 30 minutes. Being cautious of the following points can help prevent myocardial infarction:

1. Do not carry heavy articles. Bowing and holding the breath when lifting heavy objects is the common cause of myocardial infarction induced by coronary heart disease in elderly patients.

2. Relax the spirit and keep a peaceful mind. Take part in appropriate sports activities, but avoid competitive games.

3. Exercise at least three times per week, for no less than 30 minutes each. Before taking part in physical exercise, the degree of physical tolerance should be measured. Excessive exercise will cause sudden rise of blood pressure that can lead to left ventricular over-fatigue and heart failure. The amount of exercise generally depends on age and health.

4. Don't bathe after a full meal or when hungry. Avoid bathing in hot water which will leads skin vessels to dilate and a large amount of blood to flow to the body surface, which in turn can cause cardio-cerebral ischemia. Bath time should not be too long. Older people in serious condition should bathe with the help of others.

5. Pay attention to weather changes. Under the influence of cold or strong cold air, coronary artery spasm and secondary thrombosis can lead to acute myocardial infarction. When the weather changes dramatically and the air pressure is low, the CHD patient will feel significantly uncomfortable. Therefore, CHD patients should keep warm, or take appropriate drugs to prevent an episode of the disease.

Note: This article is for reference only. Please consult a professional physician for more specific information.