What is CHD and Heart Failure?
CHD (Coronary Heart Disease) and IHD (Ischaemic Heart Disease) are terms which are used interchangeably. They describe what happens when the blood supply to heart muscle is reduced or suddenly interrupted by a build up of fatty material (atheroma) and associated blood clot (thrombus) in the coronary arteries. This can cause angina, heart attack and progressive heart muscle damage. Available from: HERE, Page 79.
What is a myocardial infarction?
A myocardial infarction (MI) or heart attack is a serious medical emergency in which the supply of blood to an area of the heart is suddenly blocked, usually by a blood clot. Lack of blood to the heart can seriously damage the heart muscle. Read HERE.
What is Angina?
Angina describes the symptoms of chest discomfort that occur when narrowing of the coronary arteries prevents enough oxygen-containing blood from reaching the heart muscle, especially when its demands are high, such as during exercise. Often medication can reduce symptoms. You may also have a test called an angiogram, to determine the severity of any blockages in the arteries.
It can be either stable angina (which can happen as a result of an obvious trigger, such as exercise or cold weather, and improves with medication and rest) or unstable angina (where angina attacks are more unpredictable, rapidly worsening or occurring with no obvious trigger and continuing despite resting). Read more HERE, Page 77.
What is heart failure?
Heart failure is when the heart is less efficient at pumping blood around the body. It may result from structural heart abnormalities, longstanding high blood pressure (hypertension) or damage to the heart muscle which could be caused by a heart attack, either at the time of the attack or many months or even years afterwards. The most common symptoms are reduced capacity to exercise, breathlessness during exertion or lying down and swelling of the ankles. Read more HERE.
Want to know more about each of the above or is there something missing? Let me know what you'd like to know more about by contacting me HERE.