Heart Attacks: When Will We Finally Do What Needs to be Done?

1. Heart Attacks: When Will We Finally Do What Needs to be Done? By The Doctor Weighs In

2. Introduction • Senator Bernie Sanders, was hospitalized after experiencing chest pain at a campaign event on October 2. He is said to have had blockages in one of his coronary arteries. Two stents were placed to open them. Several days later we learned that Senator Sanders had suffered a heart attack (also known as a myocardial infarction) as a result of the diminished blood flow to his heart muscle.

3. The significance of new chest pain • Based on what we know, this was a new and unusual chest pain for him. It was, in fact, described as a chest “discomfort” in many of the media stories. Chest pains of cardiac origin may be accompanied by other symptoms, such as fatigue, weakness, sweating, and shortness of breath. • Related content: Innovative New Technologies Are Improving Care for Heart Disease

4. The cause of heart attacks and sudden death • Thanks to leading cardiologists like Erling Falk, Peter Libby, and Steven Nissen we now know that heart attacks and sudden death almost are almost always the result of an unstable (vulnerable) plaque that has ruptured. • The unstable plaque contains LDL cholesterol, commonly known as “bad” cholesterol. That LDL cholesterol is oxidized—chemically changed—in the wall of the artery. That causes the immune system to recognize it as foreign. The human body deals with foreign material by attacking it with white blood cells (pus cells). • Related:  Did the President Pass or Fail His Heart Health Tests?

5. Tying the critical facts about atherosclerotic coronary artery disease together • Other medications like ACE inhibitors for blood pressure and  metformin for diabetes have beneficial effects on the metabolism of the arterial wall to improve arterial function and diminish plaque instability.

6. What we already know about coronary artery disease • We already have a very solid understanding of the pathophysiology of coronary artery disease. And, we know what to do to substantially reduce the risk of heart attacks with medical treatment. Lowering blood pressure, blood glucose, and cholesterol to aggressive goals lowers the risk of heart attack and sudden death dramatically. We also know that stopping cigarette smoking (or never starting) is important to avoid developing coronary artery disease.

7. Appropriate and inappropriate use of stents • Placing stents or by-passing acutely obstructed arteries can reduce the amount of damage to the heart muscle, particularly if done early. That is what occurred in Senator Sanders’ case.

8. We know what we should do, why aren’t we doing it? • The “new” science of vascular disease tells us that we are doing too many catheterizations, bypasses, and stents. And, we are not doing enough aggressive medical management of risk factors to prevent people from having heart attacks in the first place. • Related content: What Everyone Should Know About Their Heart • We have known what to do to prevent heart attacks for a long time. My question is why aren’t we doing it? Let us call it what it is—a failure of leadership on this issue. How many good men and women have to suffer heart attacks and sudden death before we finally get this right?

9. Get in Touch Contact Us The Doctor Weighs In Author: William H. Bestermann Jr., MD Click Here To Read The Full Article: https://thedoctorweighsin.com/heart-attacks-stents/ Website:https://thedoctorweighsin.com/ Email:info@thedoctorweighsin.com

10. Thank You