Narrowing of the coronary arteries due to the build-up of atherosclerotic plaque in the inner walls of blood vessels restrict the blood supply to heart muscles resulting in coronary heart disease (CHD). Though pressure wire guided percutaneous coronary interventions and surgery procedures are used to treat CHD, the initial treatment goal is to reduce the risk factors. High blood pressure is considered as a major risk factor of coronary artery disease (CAD). Epidemiological data suggests that there is a strong link between high blood pressure and coronary artery disease. Extra force applied on the blood vessels changes the myocardial structure, coronary vasculature and functioning of heart. Whenever the heart muscles work under higher pressure, it leads to angina or chest pain. According to the medical terms - “A systolic blood pressure at or above 140 mmHg and/or a diastolic blood pressure at or above 90mmHg is termed as hypertension.” Effective hypertension therapy mainly includes lifestyle modifications or medications.
Lifestyle changes include weight loss, limiting alcohol intake, reducing sodium intake, stopping smoking and routine exercise. If lifestyle interventions are not sufficient to control elevated blood pressure levels, patients are prescribed pharmacological treatment. Antihypertensive drugs are preferred for patients with an established cardiovascular disease or diabetes. Some of the common drug recommendations for hypertension patients with high risk of coronary disease include diuretics, beta-blockers, angiotensin-converting-enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and calcium channel blockers (CCB). Monitoring the drug treatment and blood pressure targets are important aspects of an effective hypertension therapy. Accurate measurement of blood pressure levels is significant for treating coronary heart disease, as it assists physicians in assessing outcomes of catheter-based guided percutaneous coronary interventions.
Advancements in interventional techniques and tools have helped physicians to perform procedures with more safety and reliability. Recently released Philips Xper flex cardio physio-monitoring system is a case in point as it guides the interventional cardiologist during and after the procedures. Integrated with the latest diagnostic technology, advanced Recently released Philips Xper can deliver valuable patient information that can help in devising an effective risk management strategy for the patient.
