Coronary artery disease is a hardening of the arteries within the arteries of the heart and it leads to a narrowing of the arteries as well as a reduction in the circulation of blood to the muscles of the heart and the symptoms associated with that. Thus it can cause circulatory disorders with accompanying chest pain (angina pectoris), a heart attack, or even sudden death from heart failure. A healthy lifestyle can make a huge contribution to avoid this happening.
Coronary artery disease occurs when the major blood vessels, called coronary arteries, that supply the heart with nutrients, blood and oxygen become diseased or damaged. Deposits containing cholesterol in the arteries and inflammation are usually the reasons behind the condition since these deposits, called plaques, build up and narrow the coronary arteries. This decreases blood flow to the heart, causing shortness of breath, chest pain, or other symptoms and signs of coronary artery disease. A total blockage may trigger a heart attack. It can be difficult to notice the condition since coronary artery disease develops often over decades.
Coronary artery disease is common predominantly in developed countries. Risk factors for coronary artery disease and the same as those for arteriosclerosis: high blood pressure (hypertension), smoking, increased blood lipid levels (especially cholesterol), age, heart attacks (in related family members), diabetes, being overweight, a diet rich in calories and fats, lack of exercise, and high levels of stress. Decreased blood supply to the heart muscles leads to symptoms typical of angina pectoris with feelings of tightness in the chest and a pressure on the chest that radiates out to the throat or the left arm. Symptoms may feel similar to those of heartburn. Symptoms usually manifest during periods of effort, psychological stress, or in cold conditions and disappear within 15 minutes.
If a plaque built up in a vessel detaches, the coronary artery is then closed and cause a heart attack, which is the dying off of part of the heart’s own muscles caused by lack of blood. Symptoms typically include intense, long-lasting angina pectoris that does not improve, accompanied by nausea, cold sweats, and shortness of breath. In the worst case, a heart attack can lead to death, so if the above mentioned symptoms occur it is an emergency situation and a hospital visit is necessary. In order to prevent coronary artery disease, it’s important to get regular daily exercise, eat a Mediterranean-style diet (little fat, lots of vegetables, fish, and fiber), avoiding nicotine (quitting is best), and keeping blood sugar, blood pressure, and blood lipid levels in check. To clarify the causes for angina pectoris, you should visit a specialist in cardiology. Treatment depends on the severity of the disease (see the article on heart attacks).
Several years of work in academia, medical practice and finally commercialization make it possible to provide an end-to-end process to help users to “find the appropriate medical help based on their present symptoms”. Below you will find a short explanation, showing you which part of the platform will help you best in finding the appropriate medical support.
Proceed as follows to enter your current symptoms.
Click on the appropriate body part on the picture. Select one/multiple symptoms corresponding to your complaint.
You can also add symptoms by typing your medical complaint in the search box and selecting the best matching suggestion.
Note: Your information will be kept anonymously.
Once you have selected all applicable symptoms, click the “analyze disease pattern”-button.
Accordingly, you will get a list of possible diseases and matching doctor categories who can further help you.
You can inform yourself about the possible diseases by reading the related information. But you can also return to the previous step and add more symptoms or delete already added ones to further narrow down your disease pattern.
Click on the desired doctor category to find a doctor who can help you.
If you are logged in with your profile, you will be displayed the appropriate doctors in your area. Otherwise you can enter an address in the “address” field and you will be displayed a doctor’s list around that specified address.
You will receive further information about the displayed doctors when you press on “details”.
Online bookable doctors in your area will be indicated with the notation “Book appointment” or “Book externally”, additionally they will be displayed on top of the list for your convenience.
Click on “Book appointment” to start the online appointment booking process with the desired doctor.
Please select an available appointment. “Green“ appointments are booked directly. “Red“ appointments need to be confirmed by the doctor.
Enter your general personal and health information.
Enter your present medical symptoms.
Enter your mobile phone number to identify yourself and you can finalize the appointment booking.
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