As a result of atherosclerosis and other circulatory impairments, the heart’s oxygen supply is often reduced, a condition known as ischemia. Individuals with ischemia often suffer from varying degrees of angina pectoris, or chest pains. In fact, an estimated 2.3 million men and 4 million women suffer from mild to crashing forms of chest pain each day. Many people experience short episodes of angina whenever they exert themselves physically. Symptoms may range from a slight feeling of indigestion to a feeling that the heart is being crushed. Generally, the more serious the oxygen deprivation, the more severe the pain. Although angina pectoris is not a heart attack, it does indicate underlying heart disease.Currently, there are several methods of treating angina. In mild cases, rest is critical. The most common treatments for more severe cases involve using drags that affect (1) the supply of blood to the heart muscle or (2) the heart’s demand for oxygen. Pain and discomfort are often relieved with nitroglycerin, a drag used to relax (dilate) veins, thereby reducing the amount of blood returning to the heart and thus lessening its workload. Patients whose angina is caused by spasms of the coronary arteries are often given drags called calcium channel blockers. These drugs prevent calcium atoms from passing through coronary arteries and causing heart contractions. They also appear to reduce blood pressure and to slow heart rates. Beta blockers are the other major type of drags used to treat angina. The chemical action of beta blockers serves to control potential over-activity of the heart muscle.*7/277/5*
-
Cardio & Blood- Сholesterol Comments Off
Recent Comments