6 Signs You May Need an Angioplasty!

Coronary angioplasty is a minimally invasive technique that restores normal blood flow to a blocked or constricted artery in the heart. It's a typical treatment for atherosclerosis, or artery hardening, which causes coronary artery disease (CAD, also known as heart disease).

If you have a substantial narrowing or blockage of a coronary artery, or if you have symptoms of CAD, you may be a suitable candidate for angioplasty. Angioplasty and related operations are frequently used by doctors to avoid heart attacks.

What is Angioplasty?

Angioplasty is a procedure used to improve blood flow in narrowed or obstructed coronary arteries. The heart receives oxygen-rich blood through the coronary arteries. Plaque builds up in the coronary arteries when you have coronary artery disease. Cholesterol, calcium, and other chemicals in your blood form plaque. It might constrict or obstruct your arteries over time. Some sections of your heart don't get enough blood when this happens.

Angioplasty is a surgery that improves blood flow in coronary arteries that are constricted or clogged. The coronary arteries deliver oxygen-rich blood to the heart. When you have coronary artery disease, plaque builds up in your arteries. Plaque is made up of cholesterol, calcium, and other substances found in your blood. Over time, it may tighten or clog your arteries. When this happens, some parts of your heart don't get enough blood.

Related Blog: Angioplasty: Types, Procedure, Risks, and Recovery

1. Chest Pain

Coronary arteries touch your heart muscle, and a blockage might result in pain around the organ. Angioplasty can open clogged arteries and improve chest pain caused by the poor blood supply to the heart.

Emergency angioplasty is frequently done as a life-saving procedure during a heart attack to unblock a blocked coronary artery and prevent lasting muscle damage.

2. Fatigue

Fatigue in this case, rather than merely feeling exhausted after a long day or a restless night, causes an overpowering sense of unexplainable tiredness and muscle weakness, making even simple tasks difficult to do. Eating right and having a healthy lifestyle does not help you overcome this feeling.

Peripheral artery disease, for example, can make it difficult to stand because your leg muscles don't feel strong enough to support you.

3. Arm or Leg Pain

The legs are the most commonly affected by muscle cramping and pain caused by clogged peripheral arteries, which transport blood to areas outside of the heart. Walking or cycling might make the discomfort worse, and rest can help it go away.

But if not treated at the right time, this illness can worsen making the discomfort more persistent and intense. Continuous excruciating arm or leg pain is an indicator that you need to go visit a doctor as soon as possible.

4. Skin Colour Changes

Blue or grey fingers and toes can be caused by a lack of oxygen-rich blood circulation, which can be caused by a heart problem or restricted or clogged blood arteries. When particles of built-up cholesterol plaques break off and become lodged in small blood vessels, a lacy, mottled, purple pattern appears. When you have endocarditis, you may notice crimson splotches just beneath the skin on the insides of your palms and the soles of your feet.

5. Sleep Apnea

Your brain may not be getting enough oxygen if your snoring is broken up by pauses in breathing. It will send signals to your heart and blood vessels to work harder to maintain blood flow. High blood pressure, irregular cardiac rhythms, strokes, and heart failure are all risks associated with this. Sleep apnea, fortunately, is treatable.

Obstructive sleep apnea can also put you at risk for heart attacks, strokes, and irregular heartbeats like atrial fibrillation. Multiple episodes of low blood oxygen (hypoxia or hypoxemia) in people with heart disease might result in sudden erratic heartbeats.

6. Bleeding Gums

The link between gum disease and heart disease is not completely understood by experts. However, bleeding, swollen, or sore gums have been linked to heart problems in studies. One notion is that bacteria from your gums enter your bloodstream, causing heart irritation. Gum disease, which can lead to tooth loss, has been linked to an increased risk of stroke.

6. Bleeding Gums

The link between gum disease and heart disease is not completely understood by experts. However, bleeding, swollen, or sore gums have been linked to heart problems in studies. One notion is that bacteria from your gums enter your bloodstream, causing heart irritation. Gum disease, which can lead to tooth loss, has been linked to an increased risk of stroke.

How much artery blockage requires an angioplasty?

Heart obstruction that is less than 40% is considered moderate. Such blockages certainly do not hinder blood flow and, as a result, are unlikely to cause symptoms. However, there is clear evidence of progressive coronary artery disease here, and such patients require aggressive attention to risk factors for coronary disease (cholesterol, diabetes, smoking, blood pressure, and so on), appropriate medications, and healthy lifestyle changes like exercise, weight loss, and dietary modification.

A moderate amount of cardiac blockage is often in the 40-70 percent range, as seen in the diagram above, where the right coronary artery begins with a 50 percent blockage. Heart obstruction in the mild range usually does not restrict blood flow much and so does not cause symptoms. Moderate coronary artery disease is treated similarly to mild coronary artery disease.

A severe cardiac blockage is defined as a blockage that is higher than 70%. This degree of narrowing is linked to a significant reduction in blood flow to the heart muscle, which can cause symptoms including chest discomfort and shortness of breath.

Paying close attention to these details will assist to prevent heart blockage from progressing and stabilise it. Remember that a modest cardiac obstruction can easily become unstable and explode, resulting in a heart attack.

What is the average age for angioplasty?

People over the age of 65 are more prone to have heart disease which is why coronary angioplasties are most usually performed on them.

When performed by professionals, angioplasty is a safe treatment. Because of age-related changes in the body, the surgery becomes technically difficult when the patient is above 75 years old. Calcium deposits cause the arteries in the body to harden. Owing to the soft nature of the block, dilating the artery using balloons and implanting stent/s is relatively easy in those who have a heart attack due to fresh blood clot formation.

For angioplasty, female patients are on average 71 years old, whereas male patients are 62 years old.

Summary

Angioplasty is a common, minimally invasive surgery used by doctors to clear congested arteries and increase heart blood flow. Angioplasty is a procedure that is regularly recommended by doctors to treat urgent heart issues. Although arteries can become blocked again, the surgery is generally safe when done by experts.

A Renowned Medical Facility For Angioplasty

If you've had a heart attack or are suffering from any of the above-mentioned symptoms, angioplasty may be the best way to avoid further issues. It is important to find the right expert to help you overcome any heart-related issues. At DPU Pimpri, we believe in providing our patients with the apt physical and emotional support to get through such tough phases of their life.