Runway Age Care: Coronary Heart Disease

Heart disease - Ireland's No.1 Killer
Approximately 10,000 people die each year from cardiovascular disease (CVD) - including coronary heart disease (CHD), stroke and other circulatory diseases. CVD is the most common cause of death in Ireland, accounting for 36% of all deaths. The largest number of these deaths relate to CHD - mainly heart attack - at 5,000. 22% of premature deaths (under age 65) are from CVD.

Stroke
Each year, approximately 10,000 Irish people have a stroke and around 2,000 die – more deaths than breast cancer, prostate cancer and bowel cancer combined. An estimated 30,000 people are living in the community with disabilities as a result of a stroke. This makes stroke the third biggest cause of death in Ireland and the biggest cause of acquired disability.

Source: Irish Heart Foundation

 What is Heart Disease

Coronary heart disease develops due to a build up of fatty substances in the walls of the coronary arteries - the arteries that supply the heart with blood. Over time, this build up makes your arteries narrower and restricts the amount of oxygen-rich blood getting through to your heart.

Angina is the most common symptom of coronary heart disease.

This term describes a collection of symptoms, the most common one being chest pain, that you may experience when your heart is working harder than normal – such as when you climb stairs or exercise or are feeling stressed.

The pain usually comes on gradually and in most cases, lasts only a few minutes and improves if you rest. You may also feel pain in your back, shoulder, arm, throat or jaw. This is not a life-threatening condition but is a warning sign that you are at increased risk of a heart attack. If you experience these symptoms, you should make an immediate appointment to see your GP.

The above symptoms describe stable angina. Unstable angina is a more serious form.  The pain can occur when you’re sitting down or in bed and doesn’t tend to follow a pattern. The pain can be more intense and last for much longer. If you experience this kind of pain, you should call 999 for advice as it may indicate you are likely to have a heart attack.

A heart attack usually occurs when a blood clot forms and blocks one of the narrowed coronary arteries. This starves your heart of oxygen and, if the blood supply to the heart is stopped for long enough causes permanent damage to the heart muscle. You can find out about symptoms that could suggest a heart attack on later pages. You don’t need to have a history of angina to have a heart attack.

Diagnosis and treatment of angina

It isn’t always easy to diagnose angina as there can be many reasons for chest pain. As well as a physical examination, you may have blood tests, an electrocardiogram (also called an ECG) to see how well your heart is working and tests to see how well you heart performs when you exercise.

The test results will indicate your best treatment options.

Diagnosis and treatment of a heart attack

If you call 999 and are suspected of having a heart attack, ambulance paramedics are trained to assess your condition and if appropriate, start treatment that breaks down the clot and restores the blood supply to your heart. 

Once at the hospital, you may have an angioplasty operation to open up the narrowed arteries. This operation may also be offered as part of your longer term treatment, once your condition has stabilised.

Tests that confirm whether you have had a heart attack and its effect on your heart can also indicate your future treatment options. Your doctor should explain the risks and benefits of these options, which are likely to include medication and lifestyle changes and in some cases surgery.

Recovery following a heart attack

Many people make a full recovery from a heart attack and are back to normal in a couple of months.  Others find they are not able to do as much as before. 

Many hospitals run cardiac rehabilitation programmes.  These often start while you are in hospital and continue for a while once you go home. Joining one increases your chances of getting back to normal as quickly as possible.

Programmes are likely to include supervised exercise sessions that take account of your heart condition, information to help you understand and manage your condition. This might include learning techniques to help you relax and looking at how you can build any necessary lifestyle changes into your everyday life. 

Useful Links

http://www.irishheart.ie/iopen24/