Heart artery blockage is one of the most serious diseases that may affect heart health. Many patients ask an important question: Does heart artery blockage cause death? The answer is that it depends on the degree of blockage and the speed of medical intervention, as delayed treatment may lead to serious complications that threaten the patient’s life.
The danger of artery blockage lies in the fact that it prevents oxygen-rich blood from reaching the heart muscle, leading to poor heart efficiency in performing its functions, and may cause angina or a heart attack if not treated in time.
In this article, we will learn about the causes of heart artery blockage, the most important symptoms, diagnostic methods, in addition to treating a blocked artery in the heart and the latest means of surgical intervention and therapeutic catheterization.
What is Heart Artery Blockage?
The term heart artery blockage refers to the occurrence of partial or total narrowing in the coronary arteries, which are the arteries responsible for supplying the heart muscle with blood and oxygen.
Some wonder about the number of heart arteries, as the heart is supplied through three main coronary arteries that branch into several smaller branches to supply all parts of the heart muscle.
The names of the main heart arteries are:
- Right Coronary Artery.
- Left Main Coronary Artery.
The left main coronary artery branches into the Left Anterior Descending (LAD) artery and the Circumflex artery, which are two of the most important branches that supply the heart muscle.
When narrowing or blockage occurs in one of these arteries, blood flow to the heart muscle decreases, causing chest pain and potentially leading to serious complications if not treated early.
Causes of Heart Artery Blockage
You might wonder about the cause of artery blockage in the heart. In fact, causes include the following:
- High bad cholesterol (LDL) and low good cholesterol (HDL).
- High blood pressure.
- Smoking.
- Obesity and lack of physical activity.
- High triglycerides.
There are also other factors that increase the likelihood of infection, such as advancing age, family history of heart disease, and diabetes.
How Does Heart Artery Blockage Occur?
Heart artery blockage often occurs as a result of the accumulation of fats and cholesterol inside the artery walls in what is known as atherosclerosis. Over time, the size of the deposits increases until the artery narrows or becomes completely blocked.
One of these deposits may detach, forming a blood clot that suddenly blocks the artery, which requires rapid medical intervention to avoid a heart attack or permanent damage to the heart muscle.
What is the Danger of Heart Artery Blockage?
The danger begins when blood supply to the heart muscle decreases, leading to poor heart efficiency and lack of blood flow to the rest of the body’s organs.
With continued blockage, myocardial infarction or heart failure may occur. Therefore, early diagnosis and choosing the appropriate treatment significantly help in reducing complications and improving treatment outcomes.
Does Artery Blockage Cause Death?
Many patients ask whether heart artery blockage causes death, and the answer is yes. Artery blockage may lead to death if not treated in time, especially if the blockage is complete in one of the coronary arteries supplying the heart muscle.
When the supply of blood and oxygen to the heart muscle is cut off for a long time, acute myocardial infarction or serious heart rhythm disturbances may occur, which are cases that require immediate medical intervention to reduce complications and save the patient’s life.
Symptoms of Heart Artery Blockage
Symptoms vary from person to person depending on the degree of blockage and the number of affected arteries. However, symptoms of a blocked artery in the heart often include:
- Severe pain or pressure in the middle of the chest.
- Shortness of breath, especially during exertion.
- Cold sweat.
- Nausea or vomiting.
- Dizziness.
- General fatigue.
- It may reach fainting in advanced cases.
Symptoms of a blocked artery in the heart should not be ignored even if they are mild or appear only with effort, because early diagnosis helps avoid serious complications.
Symptoms of Heart Artery Blockage in Women
Symptoms of artery blockage in women may be less obvious compared to men, so attention should be paid to the following symptoms:
- Feeling pain or discomfort in the chest.
- Pain extending to the back, neck, jaw, or arms.
- Constant fatigue without an obvious reason.
- Swelling of the feet.
- Cold sweat.
The likelihood of infection also increases in women with certain factors such as hormonal changes or after menopause, in addition to other risk factors such as diabetes and high blood pressure.
Who are the Groups Most at Risk of Heart Artery Blockage?
Groups most at risk include:
- The elderly.
- Diabetic patients.
- Smokers.
- Patients with high blood pressure.
- People who suffer from high cholesterol.
- Those with morbid obesity.
- People who are exposed to constant psychological stress.
Some of these patients may need a heart artery dilation procedure if tests show severe narrowing or an influential blockage in the coronary arteries.
Complications of Vein Blockage Symptoms
If artery blockage is not diagnosed and treated in time, it may lead to several complications, including:
- Heart rhythm disturbance.
- Cardiogenic shock.
- Myocardial infarction.
- Heart attacks.
- Heart muscle weakness.
- Sudden death.
Read also: Does Echo reveal artery blockage?
Signs of Heart Artery Blockage
Symptoms may not appear in the early stages, but with increased blockage, the patient may notice:
- Recurrence of chest pain.
- Pain extending to the neck, jaw, or left arm.
- Shortness of breath with minimal effort.
- Rapid fatigue.
- Swelling of the legs in some cases.
If these signs appear, a cardiologist should be consulted as soon as possible to determine the cause of the symptoms and develop the appropriate treatment plan before any complications occur.
How to Know Heart Artery Blockage
Symptoms of heart artery blockage may not appear in the early stages, especially if the blockage is simple, but with increased artery narrowing, symptoms begin to appear gradually.
The doctor relies on clinical examination, medical history, in addition to a number of tests such as CT scan of the coronary arteries, ECG, and echocardiogram. He may resort to diagnostic catheterization to accurately determine the location of the blockage and choose the most appropriate treatment method.
Appropriate Diagnostic Methods
If any of the previous symptoms appear, the cardiologist performs:
- Electrocardiogram (ECG).
- Stress test.
- Echocardiogram (Echo).
- Stress Echocardiogram.
- CT scan of the heart and coronary arteries.
- Diagnostic catheterization when needed.
Necessary Tests
To determine the degree of blockage and develop the appropriate treatment plan, the doctor may request:
- Blood tests, including sugar, cholesterol, liver, and kidney functions.
- ECG during rest and exertion.
- CT coronary angiography.
- Diagnostic coronary catheterization.
How to Treat Heart Artery Blockage
Treating a blocked artery in the heart depends on the degree of blockage, the number of affected arteries, and the patient’s health condition. Therefore, the doctor determines the appropriate treatment after evaluating the condition accurately.
Treatment may include medications, cardiac catheterization, or surgical intervention in advanced cases.
Treating Heart Artery Blockage Without Surgery
In the early stages, treating a blocked artery in the heart may succeed without the need for surgery, and this depends on:
- Artery dilation medications.
- Antiplatelet and anticoagulant drugs.
- Cholesterol-lowering medications.
- Blood pressure medications.
- Adherence to a healthy diet.
- Regular physical activity.
- Quitting smoking.
- Controlling diabetes if the patient has it.
Treating Heart Artery Blockage with Catheterization
Cardiac catheterization is one of the latest means of treating artery blockage, where the doctor uses a thin catheter inserted through the wrist or thigh artery to reach the affected coronary artery.
Through catheterization, the doctor can accurately diagnose the location of the blockage and can also treat the blockage during the same procedure if the patient’s condition is suitable.
Artery Dilation Procedure with a Stent
The heart artery dilation procedure is one of the most common procedures for treating coronary artery narrowing or blockage. A small balloon is inserted into the blockage site and then inflated to widen the artery, after which a stent is placed to keep the artery open and improve blood flow to the heart muscle.
The heart artery dilation procedure is characterized as a minimally invasive procedure that helps many patients get rid of angina symptoms and improve quality of life, with faster recovery compared to traditional surgeries, if the case is suitable for this type of treatment.
Treating Heart Artery Blockage with Surgery
In some cases, especially when there are multiple or complex blockages, surgical intervention may be the best option.
Surgeries include:
- Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG).
- Open-heart surgery to treat artery blockage.
The doctor determines the most appropriate type of treatment according to the number of affected arteries, the location of the blockage, and the patient’s general condition.
Arterial Linkage Procedure (Coronary Artery Bypass)
This operation relies on creating a new path that allows blood to pass to the heart muscle away from the blocked part, using an artery or vein from another part of the body, which helps improve blood perfusion and reduce angina symptoms.
Open-Heart Surgery for Artery Blockage
In cases of severe or multiple blockage, the doctor may recommend open-heart surgery, during which blockages are bypassed using arterial or venous grafts, restoring normal blood flow to the heart muscle.
What is the Success Rate of Heart Artery Blockage Surgery?
Success rates for treating artery blockage are high whether using catheterization and stent placement or coronary artery bypass surgery. This depends on early diagnosis, the experience of the medical team, and the extent of the patient’s commitment to treatment and instructions after the procedure.
Read also: Treating coronary artery insufficiency.
Conclusion
Heart artery blockage is one of the diseases that requires early diagnosis and appropriate treatment to avoid serious complications. Choosing a treatment for a blocked artery in the heart depends on the degree of blockage and the patient’s condition. Medication may be sufficient in some cases, while others need a heart artery dilation procedure with catheterization and stents or surgery.
Professor Dr. Mohamed El-Ghannam has extensive experience in diagnosing and treating heart artery blockage using the latest medical technologies, to achieve the best results and ensure the highest levels of safety for patients.
