Coronary Heart Disease
Coronary heart disease (CHD) is atherosclerotic disease of the heart’s arteries that can limit blood flow gradually or cause an acute clot.
Key takeaways
- Stable exertional chest discomfort and an acute heart attack share coronary disease but require very different immediate responses.
- Long-term treatment addresses LDL cholesterol, blood pressure, smoking, diabetes and clot risk as well as angina symptoms.
- Stenting or bypass surgery is selected according to anatomy, symptom burden and prognostic benefit, not simply the presence of plaque.
The listings below are not appropriate for undiagnosed chest pain; CHD treatment requires cardiovascular assessment and interaction review.
Establishing disease and severity
Clinical history and ECG are followed by functional testing or CT coronary angiography in selected stable presentations. Invasive angiography is used when risk is high or a procedure is being considered. Reflux and chest-wall pain can mimic angina, but new cardiac-sounding symptoms need urgent evaluation.
Treatment goals
Statins and other risk-reducing medicines lower future-event risk, while beta blockers, calcium-channel blockers or nitrates can reduce angina. Antiplatelet use depends on prior events and procedures because bleeding risk matters. Exercise and rehabilitation support function within a safe plan.
When to seek urgent care
Call emergency services for new or severe chest pressure, pain at rest, marked breathlessness, sweating, nausea, fainting or pain spreading to the arm, jaw or back.