Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI): Percutaneous coronary intervention or PCI is a non-surgical method used to open narrowed or blocked arteries. Types of percutaneous coronary intervention include:
Complications of percutaneous coronary intervention are rare and usually involve- a blood clot if the artery tears at the balloon site, failure of PCI to work, or
- hematoma at the catheter entry site.
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Angina Pectoris
Angina pectoris is a term to describe chest pain that occurs when the heart is not getting enough blood. There are two types of angina, stable (the most common) and unstable. Stable angina generally lasts less than five minutes and is relieved by nitroglycerin tablets. Angina may be caused by heart disease, coronary artery spasm, or other causes. Risk factors for angina include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, smoking, sedentary lifestyle, family history, aging, and stimulant use. Treatment depends upon the cause of angina. -
Heart Attack
A heart attack is an interruption in blood flow to the heart muscle. Arterial plaque rupture is often the cause of a heart attack. Symptoms of a heart attack may include chest pain, shortness of breath, sweating, and nausea. Emergency heart catheterization and thrombolytic therapy may be used to treat a heart attack. -
Coronary Heart Disease
Coronary heart disease (CHD) is a group of different types of heart disease. Symptoms of heart disease depend on the cause and inclue chest pain or angina, shortness of breath, palpitations, and dizziness. Many conditions causes heart disease, for example, genetics, obesity, high cholesterol, and smoking. Treatment for heart disease depend on the cause and include diet and other lifestyle changes, medications, procedures, and surgery. The prognosis (outlook) and life span for someone with heart disease varies depending on the cause. -
High Cholesterol
High cholesterol levels can lead to heart disease, stroke, angina, blood clot formation, stroke, and peripheral artery disease. Causes of high cholesterol include heredity, age, gender, stress, and lifestyle choices. Cholesterol levels can be reduced with lifestyle changes and medication if necessary (statins, fibrates, bile acid sequestrants, or niacin). -
Lifestyle Cholesterol Management
Lifestyle cholesterol management is important to lower your risk for heart disease, which includes: heart attack, stroke, and peripheral artery disease. Cholesterol management with lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise can effectively lower blood cholesterol levels in some individuals. -
Understanding Cholesterol-Lowering Medications
Cholesterol is a waxy, fatlike substance that your body needs to function normally. If a person has too much cholesterol in their bloodstream, it can lead to heart disease. Cholesterol lowering medications include statins (Lipitor, Lescol, Mevacor, Altocor, Pravachol, Zocor, and Crestor), bile acid sequestrants (Questran, Colestid, WelChol), nicotinic acid agents (niacin, Niacor, Slo-Niacin), and fibrates (Lopid, Tricor). Side effects, drug interactions, and warnings and precautions should be reviewed prior to taking these medications. -
Cholesterol FAQs
Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that is naturally present in the body. Diets high in fat, inactivity, and obesity contribute to high cholesterol. Some factors such as genetics are uncontrollable for having high cholesterol. You can lower your cholesterol levels naturally with lifestyle changes such as weight loss and control, exercise, diet, and quitting smoking. If these measures don't lower cholesterol enough a person may need to take cholesterol medications. -
Stroke
Stroke is a medical emergency. When a person has a stroke, part of the blood supply to the brain is cut off or greatly decreased. There are two main types of stroke, ischemic and hemorrhagic. Stroke symptoms include dizziness, sudden headache, weakness in an arm or leg on the same side, weakness in the muscles of the face, difficulty speaking, vision problems, and more. Treatment of stroke depends on the type and severity of the stroke suffered.
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Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) Topic Guide - Medications and Vitamins
Medications:
BivalirudinBivalirudin is an anticoagulant (thrombin inhibitor) that helps prevent the formation of blood clots. An unwanted blood clot can occur with certain heart or...learn more »
ArgatrobanArgatroban blocks the activity of certain clotting substances in the blood...learn more »
ClopidogrelClopidogrel is used to lower your risk of having a stroke, blood clot, or serious heart problem after you've had a heart attack, severe chest pain (angina), ...learn more »
Ticlopidine (oral)Ticlopidine helps to prevent platelets in your blood from sticking together and forming a blood clot. An unwanted blood clot can occur with certain heart or...learn more »
Aspirin (oral)Aspirin is a salicylate (sa-LIS-il-ate). It works by reducing substances in the body that cause pain, fever, and inflammation...learn more »
Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) Topic Guide – Related Topics
Related Topics:
Blood Clots
Blood is supposed to clot to help repair a blood vessel that is injured. Clots or thrombi become a problem when they form inappropriately. There are a variety o...learn more »
Hematoma
A hematoma is a collection of blood outside a blood vessel usually caused by injury to the blood vessel wall. Causes of hematoma include:
learn more »