Coronary Heart Disease

What is Coronary Heart Disease?

Coronary heart disease is also called coronary artery disease and is a cardiovascular disease of the heart. The heart is an organ that pumps oxygen-rich blood to different parts of the body through the arteries.

Excessive cholesterol levels in the blood cause fatty deposits to stick to the walls of the arteries. Atherosclerosis occurs due to excessive cholesterol levels in the blood that cause fatty deposits called plaque to stick to the walls of the arteries. This causes the narrowing the blood’s passageway, reducing or cutting off the supply of oxygen to the heart.  Plaque can also form a blood clot which also blocks oxygen delivery to the heart.


What are the symptoms of Coronary Heart Disease?

Symptoms of Coronary Heart Disease include:

  • Chest pain (angina)
  • Feeling of indigestion 
  • Feeling faint or nauseous
  • Heart failure
  • Irregular heartbeat
  • Pain in the back, arms, and shoulders
  • Shortness of breath due to build-up of fluid in the lungs


What are the causes of Coronary Heart Disease?

Coronary Heart Disease happens when your coronary arteries get clogged by fatty deposits over time. This process is known as atherosclerosis and results in your arteries becoming narrow and stiff which limits the blood flow to the heart muscles. This may lead to chest pains (angina) and increase your risk of a heart attack. 


What are the risk factors of Coronary Heart Disease?

There are several risk factors of Coronary Heart Disease. Some factors that may increase your risk include:

  • Age: Your risk increases as you get older.
  • Family history: Having a biological family member with heart disease increases your risk of developing the heart condition.
  • Diet: A diet high in saturated fats and refined carbohydrates has been shown to result in a higher risk of Coronary Heart Disease.
  • Lifestyle factors such as smoking, not getting enough exercise and sleep.


How is Coronary Heart Disease diagnosed?

Coronary Angiography
A coronary angiography is a diagnostic procedure to observe how blood flows through the heart’s arteries heart’s and blood vessel function.

Echocardiogram
An echocardiogram is a form of ultrasound which shows your heart's movement, structure, and function.

Electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG)
An electrocardiogram records the electrical impulses traveling through the heart.

Imaging Test
Cardiac imaging tests are done with ultrasound or CT scan to check the size of your heart and if there is fluid build-up surrounding organs.

Stress Test
A stress test is done by monitoring your heart function while you run on a treadmill and  provides information about the likelihood of coronary artery disease.
 

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Dr. Ong Sea Hing
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Did you know?

While it is true that you should eat a diet low in saturated and trans fat if you have heart disease, other fats such as unsaturated fats in olive oil and nuts are actually beneficial. In fact, eating fish high in omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon, twice a week can lower the risk of heart disease.

Learn more about ways to maintain your heart health here.