A coronary angiography is a very common procedure that can also be known as an angiogram, coronary angiogram, cardiac catheterization or even just as an ‘Angio.’ It is worth mentioning that heart disease remains to be the leading cause of death in most parts of the world, despite ongoing improvements in prevention, education and treatment.
If you’ve suffered from a heart attack before, angina or unexplained chest pain, you might be referred by your GP to a cardiologist to be assed for a coronary angiography. In this simple guide, we will let you in into some of the things you should know about coronary angiogram.
For starters, a coronary angiogram is a common procedure that entails taking X-ray images of the blood vessels leading to the heart. It gives your medical practitioner a clear picture of your heart and its surrounding arteries, helping to diagnose any underlying heart condition and to help determine what treatment is required.
You should remember that the coronary arteries surround the heart and supply the heart muscle with essential blood to keep it pumping. If fatty plaque builds up and clogs your arteries, it can restrict blood flow to the heart. Poor blood flow can lead to potentially life-threatening problems such as angina, heart attack, or heart failure.
Coronary angiography is designed to help identify any narrowing or blockage present in the arteries leading to the heart and shows whether blood flow is being restricted. If there is a problem, it will show exactly which arteries are narrowed, and the severity of any blockages.
If your healthcare practitioner is concerned about your heart and suspects that you might have narrowing of the coronary arteries, they might recommend that you undergo angiography. For those with any narrowing of the coronary arteries, it’s essential to get that diagnosed early so it can be treated since undiagnosed coronary artery disease can put you at risk of a heart attack.
Are the any side effects of coronary angiography? Well, the most common side effect of the procedure is some bruising and/or swelling at the site where the catheter was inserted. Like all surgical procedures, coronary angiograms do carry some risk. However, the overall risk of complications is low.
Remember, every case is different, so relative risks of the procedure are always discussed with patients by their attending doctor beforehand. Ensure you research more on what happens before your procedure.
