Coronary heart disease (CHD) is a very dangerous condition – the number one killer, ahead of cancer. It is therefore crucial to detect it in good time and then to provide effective treatment. Symptoms of coronary heart disease are very often a feeling of constriction or a burning pain in the chest, typically occurring during physical exertion or when a person is agitated or under stress. However, these sysmptoms can also occur at night when the patient is at rest. In women, in particular, the signs may be atypical.
If you have experienced symptoms like these or any other warning signs pointing to the condition, an abnormal ECG for example, at our practice you will undergo a thorough and careful physical examination. This will include a look at your medical history, an ECG and an exercise stress test. In addition, the examination may also include a stress echo test, scintigraphy or a CT scan. Finally, the conclusive diagnosis of coronary heart disease is always made with the help of a cardiac catheterization examination to identify the coronary arteries responsible for restricting the blood supply in the heart muscle. The examining doctor will point out the coronary arteries to you on the monitor screen and outline suitable courses of treatment. If necessary, a balloon dilatation (PCI) and, at the same time, a stent implantation will be carried out, following which you will then be transferred to the
high-dependency unit at the hospital for a stay of 2 days and further treatment on the appropriate medication. If PCI/ stenting is not necessary, you will only need to remain under observation at the outpatient unit for 4 to 6 hours and will then be allowed to go home.