Treatment for Angina Pectoris
- Angina and other symptoms of coronary artery disease are signs that you are at risk. Now that you have been diagnosed (or self diagnosed), what are the treatment options?
- Thanks to great innovation and technology, there are several effective treatments for your heart disease depending on your medical condition.
- These are the treatment options for Chest Pain and Anginal Equivalents such as Shortness of breath, fatigue, nausea, dizziness, palpitations:
Medical Management from Medications
- This usually the first step in management of Chest Pain. This is an adequate option for less severe disease for periodic chest pain resulting from minor blockages
- Medical management includes pharmacological medication to assist with symptoms but also medication to control other contributing risk factors of CAD such as blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes including adjustments in lifestyle (diet, exercise)
- Angina episodes are often initially treated with a vasodialating medications such as nitroglycerin as a temporary solution. Other medications used are beta blockers such atenolol (tenorminR, propranol (InderR) or metoprolol (LopressorR)
- Calcium-Channel blockers are another medication used to slow the heart while dilation occurs in the arteries. Calcium-channel blockers inlcude amlodipine (NorvascR), ditiazem (CardizemR) or nefedipin (ProcardiaR).
- Statin drugs are often prescribes too as these medications lower high cholesterol known as a high risk factor in heart attacks. The last resort medication in use is ranolazine (RanexaR). This cholesteral know
Angioplasty / Stent
- Angioplasty is an invasive procedure where a catheter is inserted (usually in the femoral artery in the leg) and guided up into the Coronary Arteries where a balloon is inflated to flatten the plaque firmly against the arterial wall.
- Most angioplasty procedures now include the insertion of a stent which is a wire mesh tube to keep the artery open. The procedure is generally safe and indicated in acute scenarios of a heart attack or arteries that are shown to be almost completely blocked.
Bypass Surgery – Coronary Artery Bypass Graph (CABG)
- Bipass surgery is the most severe of all procedures .This is a fully invasive procedure that requires complete access to the heart to create by-pass or alternate pathways around completely blocked arteries. The good news about Bipass Surgery, is it is now more uncommon as other technologies have as effective with much less risk and complications. Bpass surgery is now only necessary in rare cases of a blockage in one main coronary artery.
Trans-myocardial Revascularization Procedure (TMR)
- TMR is also another invasive procedure to improve profusion or blood flow to ischemic regions of the heart. TMR is a procedure often done in conjunction with Bipass surgery where a fine laser is used to burn microscopic holes in the myocardium (heart muscle) to promote angiogenesis (arterial growth). The mechanism of action or science behind TMR is not yet proven but is seems to reduce symptoms and imcrease coronary perfusion
External Counterpulsation Therapy
- External Counterpulsation Therapy (also known as ECP or EECP Therapy) is the only truly effective non-invasive procedure for chest pain that has virtually no risk, and no real side effects. Patients that enroll in External Counterpulsation Therapy have an 80% chance of experiencing a positive outcome. Evidence shows that patients with symptoms of CAD such as chest pain can restore exercise tolerance and return to a more active lifestyle.
- The mechanical process of ECP and EECP Treatment is simple. The treatment inflates blood pressure – like cuffs in a sequential order starting at the calfs, thighs and then to the buttocks mechanically delivering blood back to the heart with great force. This rehabilitation process forces blood through narrow and dormant (closed) vessels creating great improvements in blood flow back to the heart.
- EECP Therapy is a viable treatment option for patients compared to other invasive procedures due to its low risk, yet highly effective. EECP Therapy / procedure significantly reduces symptoms in patients that suffer from symptoms of CAD such as Chest Pain, Shortness of breath and chronic fatigue.
