Arteries are tunnels that help in the flow of blood into your heart. However, when arteries are blocked they can cause health problems that are shown through various symptoms. Just as blocked tunnels aren’t good for traffic flow, blocked arteries are also not good for a person’s health.
Arteries blockage occurs to most patients who have heart disease and sometimes the patients can experience the blockage for several months or even years. Since very few patients undergo a stent or bypass procedure, there’s always a need to help the untreated patients. With that said, here a few warning symptoms of blocked arteries.
Impacts of a Complete Blockage
Artery blockages are usually not created equal. Treating an artery that is 97 percent blocked might be much easier than treating one that has been blocked completely for quite a long time. However, their symptoms such as chest pains, tightness and shortness of breath can be similar. Sometimes, when arteries become completely blocked a new blood supply can develop within the blockage.
The new blood supply formed is called collaterals and it does not deliver sufficient blood to your heart. This can in turn lead to symptoms of chest pain and shortness of breath just like an artery that’s not completely blocked. So, in case you have these symptoms then a stress test can help determine if they are caused by an artery blockage or something else. And the first crucial step to take is to see a doctor.
Treatment
Gone are the days where there was only one way to treat Chronic Total Occlusions. Doctors simply tried to probe a wire through the blockage from the front. These procedures had a 70 to 75 percent success rate and this kept some doctors from recommending it for treatment. Nowadays, there are several options that can be used in the treatment of blocked arteries.
Doctors can either go around the blockage or work backward through the heart and even the success rates have increased to 95 percent. Due to the vast options in treatment, patients with blocked arteries can now have assurance that they can be treated. Furthermore, patients should understand that successful treatment is essential as it relieves symptoms and also results to a better quality of life.
There you have it, some of the symptoms of blocked arteries you need to watch out for before seeking medical attention.