Angiography

Angiography is an X-ray procedure that examines blood arteries.

Because blood vessels are difficult to see on a standard X-ray, a special dye need to be injected into your blood beforehand. This highlights to your blood vessels, making it easier for your doctor to spot any abnormalities. Angiograms are the X-ray pictures generated during angiography.

Disease Overview

Atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis is a condition in which plaque builds up inside arteries. The arteries harden and narrow, restricting blood flow and increasing the risk of blood clots, heart attack, and stroke. Atherosclerosis can start as early as childhood and progresses over time. Complications can be avoided with lifestyle modifications, drugs, and surgical treatments.

Disease Signs and Symptoms

Signs and Symptoms of Atheroscelerosis may include:

• Angina, a type of chest discomfort
• Pain in your leg, arm, or anyplace else where an artery is obstructed.
• Walking causes cramps in the buttocks
• Shortness of breath
• If the obstruction affects your brain's circulation, you may experience confusion.

Disease Causes

Although scientists are aware of the risk factors, they are unsure why some people get atherosclerosis and others do not.

Damage to the endothelium, the inner lining of the artery, is thought to be the source of the disorder. Damage can be caused by smoking, excessive cholesterol, high blood pressure, high blood glucose, and other reasons. Plaque is placed at the area where the harm happened. The drug may then cause the body to generate other substances, which will also gather. The arteries become thicker with time, and blood flow becomes less and less.

Diagnosis

• Your doctor will do the following tests to see if you have atherosclerosis:- 
• Medical history in the family.
• Personal medical background.
• Physical examination, stethoscope listening for a weak or nonexistent pulse, or bruit, an irregular sound in your arteries.
• Blood tests are used to determine how much fat, cholesterol, sugar, and protein are present in your blood.

Your doctor may request tests to diagnose atherosclerosis and determine treatment options, such as:

Angiography: a procedure that involves the use of specialised X-rays to find and assess blockages. A contrast dye is injected into the arteries to aid in the detection of blockages on X-rays. A catheter is placed into an artery, commonly in the groyne or arm, to perform the test.

Ankle/brachial index: It measures blood flow in the limbs by comparing the blood pressure in your ankle to the pressure in your arm.

X-ray of the chest: Captures photographs of the inside of your chest.

CT Scan: A imaging that takes photos within the body and can reveal artery hardening and constriction.

Echocardiogram (echo): A painless examination that captures photos of the heart's valves and chambers and evaluates pumping motion

Electrocardiogram (ECG): A non-invasive test that evaluates the electrical activity, rate, and rhythm of the heart.

A stress test that assesses heart function while you are physically engaged is known as an exercise stress test.

Disease Treatment:

Atherosclerosis can be treated with a combination of lifestyle modifications, medicines, and surgical treatments. The objectives are to:

• Reduce your risk of blood clots.
• Make better choices to avoid further heart or vascular problems.
• Prevent illnesses and consequences associated with atherosclerosis.
• Symptoms should be relieved.
• Plaque development can be slowed or stopped.
• Clogged or obstructed arteries can be widened or bypassed.

Some people with advanced atherosclerosis might require surgical procedures, such as:

Coronary angioplasty: also known as percutaneous coronary intervention, is a procedure that opens narrowed or obstructed coronary arteries in the heart. A catheter is placed into a groyne artery to execute the procedure (cardiac catheterization). A stent (small tube) may be inserted into the artery to keep it open.

Coronary artery bypass surgery bypasses (goes around) a narrowed artery by using arteries or veins from other parts of your body.

Bypass surgery increases blood flow to the leg by redirecting blood from a congested leg artery.

Carotid endarterectomy : a procedure that removes plaque from the arteries in the neck in order to reduce the risk of a stroke.