Symptoms of coronary heart disease in men

Signs of coronary heart disease in men can manifest themselves in different ways. Along with the main symptoms, a strong part of the population is prone to loss of physical activity, as well as the main male "vanity" - potency.

Cardiac ischemia most often overtakes men, since women of reproductive age produce sex hormones that prevent the development of atherosclerotic diseases. Before menopause, symptoms of ischemia are found in 30% of women, while in men this figure exceeds 50%. After menopause, the risk of coronary heart disease in the female and male half of the population is equalized.

Causes of coronary artery disease in men

Coronary artery disease occurs as a result of the inability of blood vessels to provide the necessary amount of oxygen to the heart. In connection with the occurrence of coronary heart disease, there is a change in the heart arteries, so the disease is defined as coronary heart disease.

During psycho-emotional or physical stress on the body in a healthy person, an increase in the lumen is observed in the vessels. With IHD, the arteries lose their functionality and ability to expand. Signs of the disease can also appear when blood clots occur or with spasms of the heart arteries. In older men, ischemia can develop with excessive food intake.

Metabolic dysfunction leads to:

• to loss of elasticity of arteries;
• contributes to the accumulation of cholesterol in the vessels;
• leads to the formation of cholesterol plaques.

In medicine, this process is called atherosclerosis.

Much less often, ischemia is expressed in the form of spasms, which are not accompanied by a change in the walls of the arteries.

The population leading an unhealthy lifestyle is more at risk of developing coronary artery disease.

Among the factors that influence the occurrence of the disease, the following are distinguished:

• malnutrition, which leads to an increase in cholesterol levels and the formation of cholesterol plaques;
• obesity;
• a sedentary lifestyle, as a result of which muscle tissue is weakened;
• bad habits, especially smoking;
• chronic hypertension;
• diabetes;
• regular psycho-emotional disorders and stress;
• "bad" heredity.

How is IBS manifested? Types of ischemia

In medicine, it is customary to classify ischemia depending on the rate of development, the severity of the forms and the reversibility of the disease.

If the disease is reversible, then the blood circulation in the muscular layer of the heart can return to normal, while irreversible forms lead to the death of the myocardium. There are 4 types of coronary artery disease, each of which has its own symptoms and characteristics.

1. Angina. It occurs more often in the male half of the population. Signs of angina pectoris are mainly expressed by pain in the cardiac region. It appears during physical activity and can spread to the entire shoulder area. "Echoes" of pain can sometimes occur in the stomach area, which often leads the patient astray about its source. The duration of pain fluctuates within half an hour, after which the pain goes away on its own. In patients with diabetes, pain is most often replaced by increased sweating, a feeling of suffocation and a sharp loss of strength.
2. coronary death. The disease develops at a high rate, resulting in death after a few hours. The death of heart tissue does not occur, since the process of coronary death takes very little time. It occurs as a result of dysfunction and failure in rhythm and in cardiac work.
3. Myocardial infarction. Its symptoms are similar to angina pectoris. A heart attack can occur in men at an earlier age than in women. But often such cases occur due to excessive amounts of alcohol consumed. It should be noted that the occurrence of a heart attack at a young age entails serious complications in the future. The place of localization of tissue death affects the possibility of rehabilitation after myocardial infarction. Depending on this, there may be a loss of working capacity, disturbances in the functioning of organs, and so on. If the patient has the first symptoms indicating the onset of a heart attack, he needs urgent hospitalization.
4. Postinfarction cardiosclerosis. Most often, this form of coronary disease in men is asymptomatic. In rare cases, it can have angina symptoms and is chronic. With postinfarction cardiosclerosis, there may be instability in sexual activity or a decline in physical strength. As a result, men experience frequent depression or low self-esteem.

In the presence of coronary heart disease in men, impotence develops. This process is based on a lack of oxygen and a violation of the blood supply to the genital organs.

The development of coronary artery disease in men

With ischemia, the symptoms are irreversible, as a result, it is completely impossible to cure the disease. Modern medicine allows one way or another to stop the development of coronary disease and, as far as possible, keep its course under control.

Although patients in most cases are observed by doctors and receive the necessary treatment, heart disease affects the work of other organs. In medicine, this is called the "cardiovascular continuum" (CVC).

Diseases that include SSC:

• ischemia;
• hypertension;
• atherosclerosis;
• stroke;
• arrhythmia.

This list includes other diseases that affect the performance of the kidneys, brain and pancreas.

SSC has 4 stages of development:

1. Asymptomatic stage. During the accumulation of cholesterol in the vessels, their lumen gradually narrows, but not so much that the first symptoms appear.
2. First signs. At this stage, men are overtaken by hypertension, increased sugar and cholesterol levels. The lumen of the arteries is reduced to half, and the muscles of the heart are deformed.
3. Development of symptoms. Shortness of breath appears, the heart rhythm is disturbed, pain in the chest area appears. The lumen of the vessels becomes narrower, and ultrasound shows an increase in the cavities of the heart.
4. Final stage. Numerous edemas appear, stagnation occurs in the lungs, heart failure develops. Symptoms are accompanied by sharp jumps in pressure and soreness of the chest, even in a calm state.

In the first case, IHD begins to develop at a faster pace.

Diagnosis of coronary artery disease in men

To determine the exact form of IHD in a patient, doctors analyze the symptoms, the degree of their manifestation, and the general condition of the patient.

The procedure for making a diagnosis is as follows:

• Pain assessment.
• The appointment of an ECG, which will help to identify the presence of tissue death or ischemia.
• Appointment of blood tests to assess the amount of enzymes in its composition.

The presence of pain in men is observed in any form of coronary artery disease. They are especially clear when the ability to perform physical activity drops sharply.

During angina attacks, the ECG captures all the changes that disappear with the end of the pain syndrome. In order to provoke an attack, men are subjected to slight physical exertion. This procedure helps to more accurately diagnose the stage of development of coronary artery disease.

Speaking about the diagnosis of coronary heart disease during a heart attack, it should be noted that ECG indicators are more stable. The reason is the formation of a scar at the site of tissue death. Cardiography performed on a patient after myocardial infarction has individual characteristics for each individual patient. In this regard, in order to diagnose any coronary changes, it is necessary to consider all the results of the ECG performed.

Coronary angiography (CAG) is considered the most effective way to determine the stage of development of coronary heart disease.

It is carried out like this:

1. A special substance is injected into the heart arteries.
2. After that, several x-ray frames are taken, which show the degree of change in the lumen in the arteries.
3. IHD is diagnosed when the lumen of the vessels is reduced by more than 70%.

If the damage to the main arteries is insignificant, stenting is prescribed, with the help of which the changes are eliminated.

What kind of doctor is needed

When a patient has symptoms that indicate the development of coronary disease, the first thing to do is visit a cardiologist who will conduct the necessary examination. According to the results obtained during the diagnosis, there may be a need for an operation performed by a cardiac surgeon.

As an additional examination, men are referred to an endocrinologist to be analyzed for the presence of diabetes. Also, the patient is recommended to visit a nutritionist who will give recommendations on proper nutrition to reduce cholesterol levels in the blood and get rid of excess weight.

Recommendations for the prevention of coronary artery disease in men

Of course, the development of coronary heart disease is an irreversible process, but it is possible to stop its development.

For men who have already experienced the first symptoms of coronary artery disease, for example, with sexual activity disorders, and for those who experience general ailments from physical activity, it is recommended to adhere to the basic rules that contribute to the normalization of performance:

• Proper nutrition. Food should be balanced and complete. Ideally, men should visit a nutritionist who will make the right cholesterol-free and low-fat menu.
• Maintaining the "correct" weight. Here it is also worth visiting a nutritionist to form a menu. Many of the men who have lost extra pounds see their condition normalize and symptoms of coronary heart disease alleviate.
• Physical training. Despite the possibility of pain during physical exertion, doctors recommend taking frequent walks and performing simple therapeutic exercises.
• Avoidance of stressful situations that can provoke the rapid development of coronary artery disease.
• Quitting smoking and drinking alcohol.
• Regular measurement of blood pressure.

All of the above rules are only for the patient himself. It is on how much they are observed that the condition of a man during the course of coronary artery disease depends. These recommendations must be followed along with regular visits to the cardiologist, which allows you to create complete control over the coronary artery disease.