Coronary heart disease

The coronary heart disease also includes arteriosclerosis of the cardiovascular system. Starting with small fat deposits over calcified plaques the spectrum reaches up to an acute obliteration in the course of an acute myocardial infarction. A key role in this process plays the LDL cholesterol that is deposited on the vessel wall and is causing an inflammatory reaction there. Accordingly the lowering of the cholesterol level is influencing the progression of the disease. Other risk factors are nicotine abuse, physical inactivity, high blood pressure, diabetes mellitus as well as family disposition.

At least three times a week light endurance training, nicotine abnegation, obtaining the normal weight, blood pressure adjustment, optimal diabetes treatment.

First of all when it comes to burden later even at rest, pressure is developing behind the sternum or otherwise in the breast area often with a radiation to the arms, to the neck, to the teeth and to the upper abdomen. Often with women the complaints are confused with stomach aches. When it comes to myocardial infarction the pain is ongoing and often has a destructive character and the pain is not getting better. In a third of the cases the myocardial infarction is occurring without having any symptoms in advance.

A risk profile is prepared for patients with no complaints in order to make out the percental risk of suffering from a coronary heart disease within the next 5 years.

Patients with a high risk are checked regularly by means of stress echocardiogram in order to evaluate the heart function under stress. This examination measure is also applied at our practice when there are undefined complaints in the thorax region. A typical angina pectoris is diagnosed by heart catheterization.

Besides controlling the risk factors as well as a guide lined medication therapy, when it comes to coronary vessel stenosis also a treatment by means of balloon dilatation including the placement of a stent is possible. We have 20 years experience in this diagnostic measure. If the stenosis is not qualified for a balloon dilatation, an operation of the heart can become necessary. During the operation the stenosis is bypassed by body-owned arteries or veins.