"What Routine Checks Can Help Prevent Heart Disease, Given That CT Angiography Reduces Heart Attack Risk by 40% Within 5 Years?"
The heart, as a vital organ of the body, beats ceaselessly. With each contraction of the heart, blood laden with oxygen and nutrients is distributed to every corner of the body, nourishing every tissue and cell. However, in recent years, the incidence of heart diseases has been on the rise, with a trend towards younger age groups. Fortunately, a medical procedure known as CT angiography has contributed to a reduction of approximately 40% in heart disease incidence within five years. Let's delve into its details.
What is CT Angiography?
CT angiography enables the early detection of heart diseases among patients experiencing chest pain. Prompt and proactive treatment under a physician's guidance can significantly lower the risk of disease onset. Compared to other diagnostic methods, CT angiography is straightforward and effective in enhancing patient outcomes. This non-invasive vascular imaging technique offers a clear view of the patient's vascular condition from the outside, featuring simplicity, safety, and zero side effects.
Routine Checks for Heart Disease Prevention
1. Electrocardiogram (ECG)
A common and practical diagnostic tool for heart diseases, ECG is typically used to detect myocardial infarction, ischemia, and arrhythmias. It should be noted, however, that ECG only captures myocardial blood supply issues at the time of the test or previous myocardial lesions, failing to detect transient ischemia or assess myocardial structural damage or functional deficiencies. Patients should avoid fasting before the test and wear comfortable, easily changeable clothing. ECG types include standard, dynamic, and stress ECG. Standard ECG only records electrical activity during rest, limiting its ability to diagnose transient or episodic ischemia. Dynamic ECG continuously records over 24-48 hours, aiding in the timely diagnosis of ischemia, episodic or persistent heart conditions, and arrhythmias. If these two methods fail to reveal any abnormalities, a stress ECG test may be conducted, where the patient walks on a treadmill with gradually increasing speed, recording ECG during chest pain or palpitations for diagnosing effort-induced ischemia.
2. Echocardiography
Echocardiography, also known as cardiac color Doppler ultrasound, involves moving probes over the patient's surface to visualize the heart's structure, assess ventricular thickness and size, evaluate heart valve function, and display myocardial motion and hemodynamics, pinpointing ischemic areas. This test requires no fasting, is non-invasive, and affordable, making it suitable for screening all individuals with heart-related discomfort. However, its accuracy may be compromised in obese individuals, those with chest deformities, or severe emphysema due to unclear imaging.
3. Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
MRI assesses the heart's position, size, ventricular wall thickness, and chamber dimensions. Additionally, it evaluates the pericardial structure, atrial and aortic root diameters, without any side effects or trauma to the body.
4. Coronary Angiography
Considered the gold standard for diagnosing heart diseases, coronary angiography identifies coronary artery stenosis, guiding intervention procedures and stent placement as needed to maintain vessel patency. However, its high cost, invasiveness, and potential risks warrant caution.
Warm Reminder
Individuals at high risk of heart diseases should undergo regular medical check-ups to detect and promptly treat underlying conditions. While screening for heart diseases, non-invasive methods like dynamic ECG or coronary CT are recommended over invasive procedures like coronary angiography or cardiac electrophysiological studies.
