Please copy/paste the following text to properly cite this How Stuff Works article:
Stone, Neil, and Adrienne Forman. "Coronary Heart Disease Surgeries and Procedures." 23 April 2007. HowStuffWorks.com. <http://health.howstuffworks.com/coronary-heart-disease-surgeries-and-procedures.htm> 09 May 2008.
Coronary Heart Disease Surgeries and Procedures Overview
Surgical treatment for coronary heart disease is typically reserved for cases where milder therapies have been ineffective.
An invasive procedure to treat coronary heart disease may be necessary in people who have severe symptoms that indicate marked impairment of blood flow to the heart. It just may not be possible to wait to determine if a healthy diet and drug therapy are effective.
In such cases, an invasive procedure that immediately restores blood flow to the heart may be necessary. In other cases, after diet and drug therapy have been tried without sufficient success, an invasive procedure may be recommended.
You may have heard about these procedures on the news or read about them in magazines. We'll provide you with in-depth, accurate information that will arm you with the knowledge you need before talking about them with your doctor or undergoing such a procedure.
The first such procedure that we'll discuss is angioplasty, explained on the next page.
For more information on coronary heart disease, see:
Coronary Heart Disease Treatment: The therapy for your heart disease depends on how severe it is, but it will always start with diet and exercise. Find out what other methods are used.
Coronary Heart Disease Risk Factors: Extensive research has gone into determining the risk factors for heart disease. Learn what they are, and whether you have any.
Diagnosing Coronary Heart Disease: This process focuses on calculating your risk factors. Find out what those are, and how your doctor tallies yours.
Coronary Heart Disease: This condition is the culmination of years of plaque buildup in the arteries. Find out how to prevent it.
This information is solely for informational purposes. IT IS NOT INTENDED TO PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE. Neither the Editors of Consumer Guide (R), Publications International, Ltd., the author nor publisher take responsibility for any possible consequences from any treatment, procedure, exercise, dietary modification, action or application of medication which results from reading or following the information contained in this information. The publication of this information does not constitute the practice of medicine, and this information does not replace the advice of your physician or other health care provider. Before undertaking any course of treatment, the reader must seek the advice of their physician or other health care provider.
Please copy/paste the following text to properly cite this How Stuff Works article:
Stone, Neil, and Adrienne Forman. "Coronary Heart Disease Surgeries and Procedures." 23 April 2007. HowStuffWorks.com. <http://health.howstuffworks.com/coronary-heart-disease-surgeries-and-procedures.htm> 09 May 2008.