WHAT IS A CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE?

WHAT IS A CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE?

Carotid Artery Disease (CAD) is also called Coronary Heart Disease, an occurrence wherein there is a narrowing of the coronary arteries. The coronary arteries are the two large blood vessels that supply oxygenated blood and nutrients to the heart muscles. The most common cause of this disease is the build-up of cholesterol-containing deposits in the arterial wall, also called plaques, this condition is called Atherosclerosis. These plaques tend to narrow the vessels causing the heart to receive less blood supply, in due course, the limited blood supply will cause shortness of breath, fatigue and, if left untreated, chest pains. If there is complete occlusion of the arteries, a heart attack may happen.

In the previous eras, because Coronary Artery Disease develops over time, the symptoms oftentimes go unnoticed until a heart attack happens. But because of global awareness efforts, there is plenty one can do to prevent or treat the disease.

WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF CAD?

Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) affects both male and female, this occurrence starts when certain factors damage the inner wall of the arteries, such as:

• Smoking
• High amounts of cholesterol in the blood
• Hypertension
• High amounts of sugar in the blood (Diabetes Mellitus)

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF CAD?

• Shortness of Breath not enough blood to supply the demands of your body is caused by the diminished blood supply causing the heart to exert more pumping effort. Eventually, causing fatigue and then shortness of breath.
• Chest Pain the pain, also called angina, is usually triggered by extreme emotional or physical stress. One may feel like somebody’s been putting pressing his chest, and it may go away after the person takes a rest. On few times, the pain may radiate on the abdomen, upper arm and back.
• Heart Attack – this condition happens when the arteries are completely blocked, totally disabling the arteries to supply blood to the heart. The classic signs of crushing pressure on the chest, palpitations and shortness of breath may most of the times be accompanied with sweating, nausea and vomiting.

DIAGNOSTIC TESTS

Vejthani Hospital offers high quality care for patients with cardiac problem such as Coronary Artery Disease. Along with the Medical History and other blood tests, here are the lists of diagnostic tests with cost estimation that our physician would need to make a suitable treatment plan for the patient:

Electrocardiogram (EKG)this test records the electrical signal that traveled in your heart. It can also reveal a previous record of a heart attack or a current one.

Echocardiogramcommonly called cardiac ultrasound, this test determines whether your heart walls are normal in connection with your heart’s pumping. Some walls which receive little oxygen may move weakly, an indication of a coronary artery disease or other cardiac conditions.

Stress Test a diagnostic test to check the condition of the heart while you are having physical exercise (e.g. treadmill) in some cases where patients cannot walk or run, medication is given to stimulate the heart, called the Dobutamine Stress Test.

Cardiac CT scan computerized tomography to visualize the arteries.

Coronary Angiogram a test that visualizes the blood flow through the heart, in other words, this checks out the patency of the coronary arteries intravenously. The doctor injects a contrast medium using a flexible catheter that is threaded from an artery, usually in the femoral artery in the thigh, into the heart. The dye will outline the narrowed or blocked artery on the X-ray images.
Estimated Cost: ~ 37,000 THB

TREATMENT AND MEDICATIONS

Treatment for Coronary Artery Disease is usually a mixture of lifestyle modification, medications, and if necessary, surgical intervention.

1. Lifestyle Modification includes:

• Regular Exercise
• Avoidance of alcoholic beverages
• Stop smoking
• Eating a well-balanced diet regularly
• Losing excess weight if obese

2. Medication your physician may prescribe you with one or more anti-hypertensive, anti-embolism, anti-angina and cholesterol modifying drugs depending on your over-all presentation which includes the blood and diagnostic tests.

3. Invasive Interventions:

• Percutaneous Trans-luminal Coronary Angiography (PTCA) a procedure in which a balloon and stent is inserted into the narrowed artery to make it open wider allowing a good passage of blood in the artery.

Inclusions:

Operating Theater Expenditures (e.g. OR medical supplies and equipments)
Surgical Team Fee (Cardio-surgeon and Anesthesiologist)
1 Coronary Balloon
1 Stent (Xience V type)
Contrast Medium for coronary visualization
Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG) an open-heart surgery wherein the cardio-surgeon will make a graft to bypass an occluded artery using another vessel from the other part of your body.

Inclusions:

• Operating Theater Expenditures (e.g. OR medical supplies and equipments)
• Surgical Team Fee (Cardio-surgeon and Anesthesiologist)
• Room and Accommodation for 7days in a Single Standard Room (includes meals, Nursing Service charges and Hospital Service charges)

Vejthani Hospital reserves all rights to any changes of the prices without prior notification.