Dr. S.S. Sibia, Director & Consultant, Sibia Medical Centre, Ludhiana

Coronary heart disease (CHD) sometimes called ischemic heart disease is the leading cause of death in India and worldwide killing about 1 in 5 men and 1 in 8 women. It is caused by blockage in heart’s blood supply by a build-up of fatty substances in the arteries.  It is primarily a disease caused by lifestyle habits and conditions such as smoking, overweight, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and diabetes. The risk is more if there is a family history of CHD and there is a male relative with CHD under 55 or a female relative under 65.

Not every CHD patient has the same symptoms and angina chest pain as its most common feature. Symptoms may vary from nil to severe. Some have just a mild, uncomfortable feeling similar to indigestion, others may experience a painful feeling of heaviness or tightness, usually in the centre of the chest, which may spread to the arms, neck, jaw, back or stomach, palpitation and unusual breathlessness.

If arteries become completely blocked, it can cause a heart attack that can cause permanent damage to the heart muscle. The discomfort or pain of a heart attack is usually similar to that of angina, but is often more severe and may be associated with sweating, lightheadedness, nausea and breathlessness. Unlike angina, the symptoms of a heart attack are not usually relieved using a nitrate tablet or spray. In some cases a heart attack may be without any symptoms and it is called a silent myocardial infarction. This is more common in people with diabetes. Heart attack if not treated straight away can be fatal.