What are the symptoms of coronary heart disease?

Written by Tang Li
Cardiology
Updated on November 19, 2024
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Some coronary heart disease patients have asymptomatic myocardial ischemia, and many may not exhibit clear symptoms of angina. Some patients can show signs of angina, with typical symptoms being a pressing pain in the anterior chest area or feelings of suffocation and shortness of breath, primarily located behind the sternum, or radiating to the precordial area and left upper limb, as well as the left side of the back. These symptoms often occur under common triggers such as physical exertion, emotional stress, overeating, or exposure to cold. If it is angina, it generally lasts less than 30 minutes and can be alleviated by rest or taking sublingual nitroglycerin. Some patients who experience a heart attack may have pain in the same areas, but the nature and duration of the pain will be significantly increased, and nitroglycerin may be less effective.

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Written by Chen Ya
Geriatrics
1min 21sec home-news-image

What is good for patients with coronary heart disease to eat?

For patients with coronary heart disease, a predominantly vegetarian diet is recommended. The diet should be low in calories, fats, cholesterol, and salt; high in protein, vitamins, and fiber; non-irritating; divided into more frequent, smaller meals; and consist of easily digestible foods. Regular consumption of nutrient-rich, easily digestible foods is advisable, especially those containing high-quality proteins with essential amino acids, B vitamins, and vitamin C. It is important to avoid overeating, restrict salt intake, and remember to include potassium-rich foods. Examples of beneficial foods include beans and their products, potatoes, seaweed, kelp, shiitake mushrooms, other mushrooms, Chinese yam, bamboo shoots, wood ear mushrooms, buckwheat, and bananas. Limit the intake of fats and sugar-rich foods, and opt for foods that can reduce blood lipids, such as milk, sheep's milk, soybeans, green beans, peas, lentils, carrots, cauliflower, hawthorn, kelp, fish, onions, and shiitake mushrooms.

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Written by Zhang Yue Mei
Cardiology
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Coronary heart disease is related to anemia.

Coronary heart disease and anemia are not the same type of diseases; they differ in mechanisms of onset, clinical symptoms, and treatment methods. Coronary heart disease is caused by long-term arteriosclerosis, leading to narrowing of the coronary arteries, which causes ischemia and damage to the myocardium, hence it is called coronary heart disease. The treatment for coronary heart disease involves the use of medications to improve blood supply by dilating the coronary arteries, as well as medications to promote blood circulation and remove blood stasis. Anemia is due to a reduction in blood cells, causing ischemia in peripheral tissues and organs, leading to a series of clinical manifestations. Treatment involves supplementing blood or providing hematopoietic elements, depending on the cause of the anemia.

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Written by Liu Yong
Cardiology
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Is chest pain always coronary heart disease?

Firstly, the most common symptoms when coronary heart disease occurs include chest pain, especially in cases of severe myocardial infarction, which manifests as intense precordial pain. However, chest pain is not always indicative of coronary heart disease. For example, the development of chest pain centers currently underway in our country is intended to differentiate the nature of these chest pains. Therefore, the significance of establishing these chest pain centers lies in the fact that there are various causes of chest pain, many of which pose serious threats to life. For instance, common conditions such as aortic dissection may also present with chest pain. Similarly, pulmonary embolism, particularly acute pulmonary embolism, can cause symptoms like chest oppression and chest pain, which are not related to coronary heart disease. The establishment of chest pain centers is to distinguish these cases, hence it's important to note that not all chest pains are indicative of coronary heart disease.

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Written by Chen Ya
Geriatrics
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How to provide emergency aid for a heart attack

Emergency treatment for a heart attack includes promptly transporting the patient to the emergency room. During this process, sublingual administration of quick-acting heart-saving pills or compound Danshen dripping pills, as well as nitroglycerin, can be used. Additionally, if conditions allow, blood pressure should be measured. If the blood pressure is very high, antihypertensive medication should be taken to control it. This serves as an initial emergency response until the patient can be assessed in the emergency room to determine the specific cause and type of heart attack, followed by targeted emergency treatment.

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Written by Gong Hao
Cardiology
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What is coronary heart disease?

What is coronary heart disease? Let's first explain two definitions: The first is the coronary artery: The coronary artery is the artery that supplies blood to the heart. The heart is shaped like an inverted, slightly flattened cone. If we compare the heart to a person's head, then the coronary arteries on the heart are like a crown situated on top of the head, almost encircling it, hence called "coronary." The second is arteriosclerosis: Lipids in the blood deposit on the inner lining of the arteries, accompanied by the proliferation of certain cells, such as smooth muscle cells and connective tissue, causing thickening of the arterial intima and formation of atheromatous plaques, making the artery walls harden and the lumen narrow. Coronary heart disease refers to heart diseases related to the coronary arteries. It typically refers to coronary arteriosclerosis, thus the definition of coronary heart disease is: the occurrence of arteriosclerosis in the coronary arteries, leading to narrowing or blockage of these vessels, which causes myocardial ischemia, hypoxia or necrosis, and consequently, heart disease.