Chronic heart disease may also be referred to as coronary artery disease, coronary heart disease, or ischaemic heart disease. All of the above are defined by a blockage of fatty substances in the coronary arteries that prevent the heart from receiving its appropriate blood supply. Chronic heart disease is an ongoing condition that must be consistently monitored and treated by healthcare professionals.

Symptoms may include but are not limited to:

• Chest Pain 
• Nausea 
• Pain extending down the left arm, or both
• Pain in neck, shoulders, or jaw
• Difficulty breathing 
• Rapid (or low/undetectable) heartbeat

What are the causes?

You may be wondering, what causes chronic heart disease? Atherosclerosis, the build-up of fatty deposits (atheroma) on the artery walls over time, is a top contributor to the disease, which can be largely influenced by lifestyle factors. 

For example, smoking and persistent overconsumption of alcohol over time raise one’s susceptibility to the disease. However, chronic heart disease is commonly linked with the presence of other conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. 

Individuals of older age with a family history of chronic heart disease are encouraged to seek professional medical advice, as they may be more susceptible to the disease. 

Diagnosis?

In some cases, chronic heart disease may be detected by a blood test. Upon detection, further testing is often required. In order to confirm the disease, doctors resort to varying forms of imaging. These include electrocardiograms (ECG), echocardiograms, x-rays, and coronary angiograms.

What does treatment look like?

Treatments for the disease are patient-dependent but may range from surgery and angioplasties, which is a technique using balloons that works to widen obstructed arteries for blood to pass through and move to the heart, to general prescription medications and lifestyle changes. 

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This article was written by Lindsey Winters and built by Alex Vyras.