Either partial or complete blockage of an artery that carries blood to the heart can result in myocardial infarction, or decreased blood flow to the heart. This condition is also called cardiac ischemia. The heart muscle may become damaged from reduced oxygen supply, compromising its ability to pump blood efficiently. Symptoms of a myocardial infarction may include shortness of breath, chest pain on the left side of the body, shoulder, arm, neck or jaw pain, skin clamminess and nausea or vomiting. According to the Mayo Clinic, not everyone with an infarction will have symptoms; this is called silent ischemia.
Medication
Aspirin is an over-the-counter medication that may be prescribed to thin the blood, reducing the risk of blood clot-induced blockage. In a study published in the medical journal "The Lancet," L. Wallentin, M.D., found that treatment with 75 mg of aspirin per day significantly decreased the risk of myocardial infarction and death. Prescription medications may include beta blockers, which work to relax and slow the heart muscle which reduces blood pressure and allows blood to freely flow into the heart, and calcium channel blockers which increase blood flow to the heart by widening blood vessels and slowing the pulse rate, which decreases the heart's workload.
Angioplasty
Narrowed arteries can be manually widened to increase blood flow to the heart. This procedure is called percutaneous coronary intervention. It works by the insertion of a long tube or catheter to the narrowed part of the artery. A small balloon is moved through the catheter and then inflated at the narrowing, which widens the artery. Then, a mesh coil is permanently inserted to continue holding the artery open. These coils can be treated with medication that will be slowly released and help to keep the artery open. Damian Pres, et al., published a study in the journal "Kardiologia Polska," suggesting that diabetic patients with high levels of LDL cholesterol, who were admitted to the hospital for this procedure, had higher mortality rates.
Bypass Surgery
Surgery to bypass the blocked coronary artery is another treatment that is designed to improve blood flow. In this procedure, the surgeon uses a blood vessel from another part of the body to bypass the blocked coronary artery. This is a serious treatment that is generally used when there are multiple blockages, because it is more risky and involves open heart surgery. According to a study in "The Journal of Nursing," authored by S.H. Ou and C.W. Kao, inflammatory response due to several factors can negatively affect patient outcomes.
References
- Mayoclinic.com: Myocardial ischemia: Symptoms
- "The Lancet"; Risk of Myocardial Infarction and Death During Treatment With Low Dose Aspirin and Intravenous Heparin in Men With Unstable Coronary Artery Disease; L. Wallentin, M.D. and The Risk Group; October 6, 1990
- "Kardiologia Polska"; Relationship Between Low'density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Level on Admission and In'hospital Mortality in Patients With ST'segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction, With or Without Diabetes, Treated With Percutaneous Coronary Intervention; Damian Pres, Mariusz Gasior, Andrzej Lekston, Marek Gierlotka, Michal Hawranek, Mateusz Tajstra, Piotr Buchta, Grzegorz Slonka and Lech Polonski; September 2010
- "The Journal of Nursing"; Pathophysiological Changes in Patients Who Have Undergone Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery; S.H. Ou and C.W. Kao; April 2010
