Pay attention to the following symptoms to detect coronary heart disease early:
- Chest oppression or tightening pain behind the sternum or in the anterior region of the heart, radiating to the shoulder arm, lasting 3-5 minutes and subsiding spontaneously after rest.
- Chest stuffiness, palpitations, and shortness of breath during physical activity, subsiding spontaneously after rest.
- Headache, toothache, leg pain related to exercise.
- Chest pain, palpitations when full, cold, or watching suspenseful films.
- Feeling of chest oppression and breathlessness when sleeping with a low pillow, needing a high pillow to feel comfortable. Sudden chest pain, palpitations, and shortness of breath during deep sleep or when lying on your back, needing to sit up or stand up to alleviate the symptoms.
- Palpitations, chest oppression, and shortness of breath during sexual intercourse or forceful bowel movements.
- Feeling of palpitations and chest oppression when hearing surrounding drums, gongs, or other loud noises.
- Repeated irregular pulse, unexplained rapid or slow heartbeat.
Early detection of coronary heart disease (CHD) is a multi-faceted process that starts with a comprehensive evaluation of personal risk factors. These factors can range from age and family history to lifestyle choices such as smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, diabetes, and physical inactivity. Addressing these risks involves adopting crucial lifestyle modifications, including quitting smoking, following a balanced diet that is low in saturated fats and cholesterol, engaging in regular physical activity, maintaining a healthy weight, and effectively managing stress.
Regular check-ups with a healthcare provider are indispensable. During these visits, it is important to discuss your risk factors and consider essential screening tests such as blood pressure checks, cholesterol tests, and glucose tests. A lipid profile test is particularly significant as it measures the levels of cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood. High levels of LDL (“bad”) cholesterol and low levels of HDL (“good”) cholesterol are key indicators of an increased risk for CHD.
Further diagnostic tools include an electrocardiogram (ECG), a simple, non-invasive test that can detect abnormal heart rhythms and signs of previous heart attacks, providing early indications of heart disease. For a more dynamic assessment, an exercise stress test may be conducted, which monitors heart rhythm, blood pressure, and electrical activity while the patient exercises on a treadmill or bike, helping to detect reduced blood flow to the heart muscle.
In cases where there is a high suspicion of CHD or following a positive stress test, a coronary angiography may be performed. This invasive test uses X-ray imaging to visualize the blood vessels of the heart, providing a detailed view of potential blockages. Advanced imaging techniques such as CT scans or MRI may also be utilized to assess the heart’s structure and function more comprehensively.
Ultimately, the course of action is determined by the healthcare provider based on the results of these tests and an individual’s specific risk factors. This may include medication, further testing, or ongoing monitoring. Education about CHD, its risk factors, and the latest preventive measures and treatments is crucial, empowering individuals to make informed health decisions that can significantly improve the chances of early detection and timely intervention, leading to better health outcomes.
