What is coronary heart disease?
The arteries are the tubes that carry blood from the heart to the rest of the body. As part of the ageing process the arteries become less elastic and their diameter may narrow. On occasion a clot may form in a narrowed artery and block it. The muscle of
the heart has four major coronary arteries feeding it. These arteries are prone to hardening (atherosclerosis). As the arteries become diseased their capacity is reduced and the heart muscle may become weaker. This chronic problem may lead to angina (central chest pain on effort) or heart failure. Sometimes a blood clot forms blocking a coronary artery (coronary thrombosis). The heart muscle, suddenly deprived of oxygen, is the site of the typical acute central chest pain. A severe heart attack is one of the commonest causes of death.
An interesting recent development has been evidence that coronary artery disease may have an infectious cause. One study has shown that men who had received antibiotics for infections were subsequently less likely to have coronary problems.
How can coronary artery disease be treated?
One of the principles in medicine is that prevention is better than cure.
There are three groups of medicines that may be considered in the prevention of coronary artery disease for women - Aspirin, HRT and statins.
Surgical Treatment of Coronary artery Disease
Since the 1970s, heart surgeons have performed major surgery by replacing diseased coronary arteries by grafting - usually veins.
A newer method to open up diseased coronary arteries is to introduce a balloon which is passed up into the diseased areas up through an artery in the groin - angioplasty
Please click on the required question.
- 1 What will happen to me at my menopause?
- 2 Why does nature put women through the menopause?
- 3 Is life-expectancy changing?
- 4 What happens to my reproductive hormones at the menopause?
- 5 What non-hormonal changes occur at the menopause?
- 6 What problems might I have as a result of my menopause?
- 7 When am I likely to reach my menopause?
- 8 What is a premature menopause?
- 9 What are hot flushes and will HRT reduce them?
- 10 What causes hot flushes and night sweats?
- 11 Can my bladder problems be related to the menopause?
- 12 Can the menopause be associated with psychological problems.
- 13 How long can my menopausal (climacteric) symptoms last?
- 14 Is there a test that will accurately determine when my menopause has occurred?
- 15 Is it normal to experience heavy periods before the menopause?
- 16 How are heavy periods around the time of the menopause treated?
- 17 Is there a need to investigate vaginal bleeding after the menopause (postmenopausal bleeding)?
- 18 What could be the cause of vaginal bleeding after the menopause?
- 19 What is atrophic vaginitis?
- 20 What local genital symptoms can be associated with the menopause?
- 21 I have gone through the menopause and now have some bleeding (postmenopausal bleeding PMB). What will my gynaecologist wish to do?
- 22 Could I have any other long-term medical problems resulting from my menopause?
- 23 What is coronary heart disease?
- 24 What is osteoporosis?
- 25 Where else can I obtain further information?
- 26 Could I have some recommended menopause support groups.
Thank you for choosing to visit us.
This is the personal website of David A Viniker MD FRCOG, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at Whipps Cross University Hospital, London - Specialist Interests - Reproductive Medicine including Infertility, PCOS, PMS, Menopause and HRT.
I do hope that you find the answers to your women's health questions in the patient information and medical advice provided.
