Treatments for ACS

December 1, 2023

Various treatment options exist for coronary artery disease, ranging from lifestyle modifications and medications to surgical or medical procedures.

The choice of treatment is influenced by several factors:

  1. Extent and Location of Narrowing: The degree of narrowing and its location, whether it’s near the heart muscle or involving branches, plays a crucial role in determining the appropriate treatment.
  2. Number of Affected Arteries: The severity of coronary artery disease is considered in relation to the number of arteries affected.
  3. Symptoms: The nature and intensity of symptoms are taken into account.
  4. Age and Overall Health: Consideration your age and overall health helps tailor a treatment plan that aligns with your needs and ability.
  5. Other Risk Factors: Identifying and addressing additional risk factors are important considerations when deciding on an approach.
  6. Your Preferences: Individual preferences and values are incorporated to ensure a patient-centric approach to care.

Lifestyle Changes

Incorporating heart-healthy lifestyle changes is a fundamental aspect of managing coronary artery disease. This includes:

  1. Adopting a plant-rich, heart-healthy eating plan
  2. Regular exercise
  3. Achieving and maintaining a healthy body weight
  4. Smoking cessation
  5. Stress management
  6. Ensuring sufficient sleep
  7. Cultivating social support networks

Medications

Medications may be recommended to treat high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and high blood sugar.

Sometimes, medications for chest pain that comes on with activity are recommended.

Aspirin or other blood thinners may also be recommended.

Procedures or Surgeries

In cases of severely narrowed coronary arteries, medical interventions may be recommended to reduce the risk of a heart attack. Two primary approaches are:

  1. Stenting: This involves placing a stent to prop open the artery, typically through a small tube inserted into a blood vessel, often in the wrist (percutaneous coronary intervention).
  2. Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery (CABG): Commonly referred to as open-heart surgery, this procedure reroutes blood around blocked or narrowed areas using other arteries or veins in the body.

Cardiac Rehabilitation

Cardiac rehabilitation is a comprehensive program designed to enhance recovery and improve cardiovascular health. This 12-week program includes:

  • Supervised exercise sessions
  • Nutrition counselling
  • Stress management techniques
  • Smoking cessation support

Intensive cardiac rehab, conducted over 9 weeks with longer sessions, offers enhanced outcomes compared to traditional cardiac rehab. This program is beneficial for individuals with angina, heart failure, a history of heart attack, coronary procedures, heart valve surgery, or heart transplant. It not only focuses on physical well-being but also educates participants on disease management and empowers them to take control of health for better outcomes.