The CDC reports that heart illnesses and conditions are the leading cause of death in America. One of the common heart conditions that may affect you is a microvascular disease, also called small vessel disease. Coronary artery disease results from plaque accumulation in the heart’s large arteries, leading to their narrowing and blockage of blood flow. However, microvascular disease Sebring results from the damage of the tiny arteries diverting from the two main coronary arteries. Hence, the heart’s small arteries cannot dilate as usual, making blood flow difficult.
Below are a few things you may need to remember about microvascular disease.
Symptoms of microvascular disease
Generally, the symptoms of a heart attack may be similar to the symptoms of microvascular disease.
If you have small artery disease, one of the main symptoms you are highly likely to experience is chest pain or pressure, which may last longer.
Unlike other conditions that affect the primary coronary arteries, small vessel disease is usually not often noticeable when engaging in intense physical activity or exercise. You feel chest pain when resting.
Other symptoms of the microvascular disease include exhaustion, breathing difficulty, lightheadedness, and trouble sleeping.
Causes of microvascular disease
Clinical studies show that the causes of microvascular disease may be similar to causes of the conditions that affect the heart’s larger vessels.
Conditions such as high cholesterol, being overweight, high blood glucose, or hypertension may make your heart not dilate. As a result, your heart does not receive sufficient oxygenated blood.
Regular smoking and sedentary life may also put you at risk of microvascular disease.
Diagnosis of microvascular disease
Diagnosing microvascular disease using conventional heart tests is often difficult because the affected blood vessels are tiny. These examinations focus on identifying blockages that may affect the main coronary arteries and thus may miss issues affecting the smaller coronary arteries.
But, if you choose the services of a specialist in small artery disease, your diagnosis will be accurate, and you can start receiving care immediately.
A specialist in microvascular disease will use cardiopulmonary exercise testing to unearth the specific cause of chest pain. Cardiopulmonary exercise testing helps comprehensively evaluate your pulmonary system, which includes your heart, muscles, airways, and lungs.
Treatment of microvascular disease
Once diagnosed with microvascular disease, your doctor may recommend a non-invasive or surgical treatment.
A common procedure your doctor may prefer is angioplasty. This treatment involves opening blocked or narrowed heart arteries to allow normal blood flow.
Prevention of microvascular disease
You need to avoid smoking and using tobacco products, eat healthily, remain physically active, maintain healthy cholesterol levels, control blood pressure, manage a healthy weight, control diabetes, and keep your stress to a minimum.
The blocking of the normal blood flow often forces your heart to work hard in pumping blood so it can circulate throughout your body. Because your heart works harder, it may trigger a heart attack that may threaten your life.
Contact Vein & Cardiovascular Center today to schedule an appointment with a microvascular disease specialist and learn more about the services offered.
