Small Vessel Disease
Affects Your Heart's Tiniest Vessels
Small vessel
disease is a heart condition that is more common in women.
It shouldn't be confused with coronary artery disease which is responsible for heart attacks.
Coronary artery disease is a narrowing or blockage in
the big arteries that carry blood and oxygen to your heart. Small vessel disease is a blockage or spasm of the
tiny arteries in your heart. Left untreated, small vessel disease causes your heart to work harder than it
needs to and that can lead to heart failure or other types of heart disease.
The symptoms of small vessel disease are very similar to
heart attack symptoms. Therefore, if you have chest pain that radiates into your left shoulder, left arm, or jaw,
you should seek medical help right away. Typically, symptoms of small vessel disease strike during exertion or
exercise. You may experience chest pain or pain in your neck, shoulder, or jaw. You may faint or feel dizzy. You
may become short of breath or feel sudden fatigue.
Small vessel disease is diagnosed by ruling out other cardiac problems like coronary
artery disease. Your doctor will also look at your history. If you are overweight, have high blood pressure, high
cholesterol, diabetes, are a smoker, and get little exercise, your risk of small vessel disease is increased,
especially if you are female. Standard cardiac tests will not reveal the presence of small vessel disease since the
arteries are so tiny. An endothelial dysfunction test, a type of angiogram, involves placing a Doppler inside of a
coronary artery. This is currently the only test that can confirm the presence of this medical
condition.
The arteries in your heart that are affected by small vessel disease are so tiny that
surgery is not possible. Lifestyle changes and medications are the treatments of choice. In addition, it is
important to control contributing factors like high blood sugar or high blood pressure.
Leading a heart healthy lifestyle is crucial to controlling small vessel disease. You
should lose weight if you need to and stop smoking. Smoking cigarettes causes your vessels to constrict and your
heart to work harder than it needs to. Eat foods that are low in saturated fat and cholesterol. Be sure to get
regular exercise since regular activity helps make your heart stronger and reduces your risk of cardiovascular
disease.
Statistically, women die from heart disease more often than men. Experts think it may
be due to the higher incidence of small vessel disease in women and the fact that it often goes undiagnosed. Since
traditional cardiac testing can come back within the normal ranges even when small vessel disease is present, if
you experience symptoms such as dizziness, shoulder pain, or chest tightness, you should discuss the possibility of
small vessel disease with your doctor so you can begin treatment as soon as possible and halt the progression of
heart disease or heart failure.
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