Archives: September 2012
Should I Use Aspirin?
Aspirin acts on the platelets, which are the blood clotting cells of the body. It makes them less “sticky” – less likely to form a blood clot.
If a cholesterol plaque inside a blood vessel ruptures, the body’s natural reaction is to form a clot in that area. This can lead to heart attacks (a total blockage of blood flow down a coronary artery) or stroke.
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends men with no history of heart disease or stroke who are 45 to 79 years old use aspirin to prevent a heart attack.
Angiogram vs. Angioplasty (and stents)
An angiogram of the heart is a direct visualization of the coronary arteries and is the gold standard test to diagnose blockages in the arteries.
During an angiogram, light anesthesia is used to provide relaxation and a numbing medicine is administered in the groin over the femoral artery. A special IV (or sheath) is then placed in the artery. Through this IV, a catheter is advanced to the heart, and the coronary arteries are engaged. X-ray contrast is injected into the arteries, and pictures are taken.
If a significant blockage is found (60-70% or greater) and this can be safely fixed, then an angioplasty will be done. A balloon is advanced to the site of the blockage and expanded to push the blockage to the sides of the artery. When the balloon is removed, blood can get through more easily. Most of the time, a stent is also placed. A stent is a wire mesh tube that helps keep the artery open. Before stents were developed, about 2/3 of blockages came back. With bare metal stents, only 1/3 of the blockages come back. With new drug eluting stents, less than 10% of the blockages come back.
(RB)
Results of a Cardiac Catheterization
Several results are possible after undergoing cardiac catheterization (angiogram of the blood vessels of the heart).
The best result is that there are no critical blockages detected by the test. The chest pain and/or abnormal test results are not related to significant blockages in the arteries supplying blood to the heart. One of the most serious causes of the clinical findings has been ruled out with essentially 100% certainty. It would be like a cancer doctor telling you the good news that you do not have cancer.
An Introduction to Chest Pain
“Chest pain” is a general term used in the medical profession to describe ANY SYMPTOM IN THE CHEST. It may be a sign that the heart is not getting enough blood and should be evaluated in a timely manner. Pain in the chest may be described as a tightness, burning, squeezing, or sharp pain. It is important to remember that every person is unique, and symptoms may not necessarily come out of a textbook.
The location of chest pain is not necessarily critical in determining how serious it is. A heart attack or angina can present with right-sided chest pain even though the heart is located primarily in the center and left part of the chest. The nerves inside the body (unlike the nerves on our skin) are very vague and may not exactly correlate with the location of the problem.