Heart blood vessel blockage

The elasticity of the blood vessels is reduces by aging and the arteriosclerosis is developed. Due to the risk factors and other diseases, the lumen of the blood vessels is decreased, and the atherosclerosis or atheroma occurs, i.e. BLOCKAGE of the blood vessels. Both of these processes reduce the blood flow to the heart muscles cells, which causes the lack of the oxygen and nutritious matters, because of which the chest pain may occur – angina pectoris. The chest pain which occurs only in the situations of physical effort or stress is called stable angina pectoris. The chest pain that occurs in the situations of both physical effort and rest is called unstable angina pectoris. If the pain lasts for more than half an hour and it is associated with the shortness of breath and fear, there is a danger that the acute myocardial infarction is being developed.

One should not make the diagnosis on their own – not every chest pain is angina pectoris – every suspicious chest pain should be reported to a doctor during the regular medical check.

What causes the blood vessels blockage?

• Fats in blood

The most important factor is the concentration of fats in blood (cholesterol and fatty acids). When the cholesterol concentration is increased for one percent, the risk for the heart attack is increased two percent.

• High blood pressure

People with high blood pressure have 5 times more chances to develop coronary heart diseases. We speak about the high blood pressure if the values exceed 140/90 mmHg.

• Overweight

The risk factor is 10 percent increased if the body weight is over the ideal one. People who have more than 20 percent more than the ideal body weight the risk is increased for 50%.

• Insufficient physical activity

People who do not exercise have two times more risk to develop coronary heart disease than people who are physically active.

• Diabetes

Also diabetes doubles the risk factor for developing the coronary heart disease.

• Nicotine

The risk for developing the coronary heart disease and the blood vessels disease is doubled in smokers, and the risk of sudden death due to heart disease is three times bigger.

• Age

The accumulation of plaque in the blood vessels is the natural process that comes with aging. Thus the possibility to develop the coronary heart disease is increased with the old age.

• Sex 

More and more studies show that the diseases of coronary blood vessels and heart muscles are equally present both in men and women.

• Genetic factor 

If your parents or siblings have had the coronary heart disease before they were 55, you are in two to five times more risk.

What can we do?

Live a happy life! Let us try to smile more often and to rejoice at every and each day and we will make the blockage developing slower and postpone the eventual offset of the angina pectoris and coronary heart disease.

We should regularly control:

• blood pressure

• sugar in the blood

• level of the fats in the blood

Healthy food (proper nutrition)

Healthy food is moderate and various and we should pay attention to several simple rules:

• Eat vegetables and fruits every day

• Use non-fat milk and bread made of whole grain (brown bread)

• Eat meat on every second or third day

• Eat fish two or three times a week

• Use just small quantities of oils and fats

• Use just small quantities of sugar and sweets.

One more recommendation: use just small quantities of salt and the less alcohol the better!

Regular physical activity 

Very useful physical activity is walking – 30 minutes every day, as well as gardening. By doing so we influence the risk factors such as: blood pressure, overweight and fats in blood. But, be cautious: excessive physical activity (running, gym, fitness) performed indoors may be an additional burden to the heart and blood vessels and it should be supervised by a doctor.

Also it is very important to quite smoking and alcohol, as well as to successfully manage the stress on the job or at home. HEALTH IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN ANY OTHER THING that we so frequently value so much that we lose our nerves because of it!

What can a doctor do?

According to the estimation of the health status, a doctor may recommend the following:

• To exclude the risk factors

• To use regularly medications for the protection of the blood vessels (for instance, Aspirin PROTECT 100).

If a doctor thinks that the chest pain is ANGINA PECTORIS, the same measures are still to be used (avoiding the risk factors and the regular use of Aspirin PROTECT 100).
Additional medicines may be also included if needed. It is important to follow the instructions given by the doctor, especially people with more than one risk factor, women over 45 and men on stressful – positions. Dragoslav Avramovic, PhD, MD