Chest pains? Your heart might be breaking
MANILA, Philippines - Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the leading cause of death in the US. It is often caused by the gradual buildup of plaque in the arteries of your heart. If left untreated, this buildup eventually blocks the flow of oxygenated blood in the artery and eventually kills that part of your heart. This can cause you to experience a heart attack and possibly even die.
Your lifestyle can put you at risk of developing CHD. Constantly eating foods high in fat, from which plaque is made of, increases your risks of clogging your arteries. Lack of regular exercise, too much stress, and smoking can add to these. Other factors to consider include whether or not you are diabetic, obese, or have high blood pressure or cholesterol levels. Additionally, the risks of CHD are also dependent on your age, gender, and even family’s medical history.
Symptoms for CHD include chest pains, shortness of breath, fatigue, and tightness or pain in the chest or neck area. However, it is important to note that these symptoms do not always appear and may also vary in degree from person to person. Should you suspect that you have or are at risk of developing CHD, don’t delay and consult with a cardiologist. You will go through some tests to diagnose whether or not you have CHD. These include the stress test, echocardiograms, CT scans, and coronary angiograms, and a new approach to coronary heart disease diagnostics called FFR. FFR is short for fractional flow reserve and is a standard in the US used to measure the efficiency of blood circulation in the heart.
FFR can be done either during a coronary angiogram or even during coronary angioplasty, surgical treatment. It has been proven to be a safe and reliable measurement system that accurately identifies the arteries affected by the buildup of plaque. By evaluating the efficiency of the blood flow, FFR can help doctors correctly locate the affected part of the artery; thus, it is an important tool for doctors in deciding the proper treatment for you.
Be better informed. Know that you and your doctors have the option of getting an affordable and accurate FFR reading to improve your assessment and treatment. Consult your cardiologist today to know the advantages of fractional flow reserve.
