Small Vessel Disease
“The small arteries in your heart are damaged and don’t dilate properly, which is a sign of Coronary Small vessel disease.”
Your small vessels need to expand to deliver oxygen-rich blood to your heart. Blood flow to your heart decreases when they are damaged. This can cause serious problems in your heart that can lead to other problems in the body.
It is also called coronary microvascular disease.
Symptoms of small vessel disease mimic those of heart disease and even heart attack. It can be difficult to diagnose small vessel disease without proper testing to differentiate between it and other heart issues.
Small vessel disease can be life threatening if left unattended.
Small vessel disease symptoms are similar to a heart attack. If you have small vessel disease, you may experience symptoms.
- The breath was very thin.
- fatigue
- sweating
- nausea
- dizziness
- It was faint.
- pain in your mandible, neck, left shoulder, arm, back, or abdomen
- anginal chest pain and pressure, typically lasting longer than 10 minutes
You might experience these symptoms after routine daily activity or times of stress. Typical chest pain from this condition can last anywhere from
If you experience pain beyond your chest, call your doctor immediately.
Small vessel disease is caused by damaged inside walls of the small vessels in your heart.
This damage may be caused by something.
If left untreated, small vessel disease will force your heart to work harder to pump blood to your body. This could trigger coronary artery constriction/spasms, a heart attack, heart failure, or death.
Anyone can develop small vessel disease, but women are at higher risk.
Other risk factors are listed.
- A low-nutrient diet.
- In inactiveness.
- “It’s obese.”
- tobacco smoking
- Diabetes.
- low estrogen levels in women
- Family history of heart disease.
It can be difficult to identify small vessel disease. Your doctor will look at your medical history and family history.
Diagnostic procedures for small vessel disease are the same as for other types of heart disease. These procedures show the structure of your larger coronary arteries and other parts of the heart, and may show coronary arteries being blocked. These tests may include some.
- cardiac stress testing with nuclear imaging or transthoracic echocardiogram
- cardiac MRI
- cardiac CT angiography scan
- cardiac PET scan
- coronary artery angiogram, which is invasive and requires left heart catheterization
If there are no significant obstructions in your larger arteries, your doctor will use an escort to get to your smaller arteries and perform a left heart catheterization. This is a test for the function of the endothelial cells. The doctor can measure the blood flow through your small vessels.
Primary treatment options for small vessel disease involve medications that relieve pain, treat risk factors, and manage associated symptoms. These medications can improve arterial blood flow and prevent heart attacks.
Some common drugs.
- Aspirin can help with inflammation and clotting.
- Nitroglycerin can help improve blood flow and relax coronary arteries.
- Beta-blocker therapy can slow the heart rate and decrease blood pressure.
- ACE-inhibitor therapy can help lower blood pressure and open up blood vessels.
- Statin therapy can help treat and relax blood vessels.
- Calcium channel blockers can help relax the muscles surrounding coronary arteries, which can help increase blood flow.
- Ranolazine can help ease chest pain.
At home and lifestyle changes
Some lifestyle changes may help treat small vessel disease.
- Maintaining a healthy weight is right for you.
- Getting regular exercise.
- If you smoke, you should quit.
- eating a nutrient-dense diet, which includes whole grains, lean proteins, and
lowering salt intake
Per the
- Quitting smoking tobacco products if you smoke.
- Maintaining a moderate weight.
- Getting regular exercise.
- Maintaining a healthy blood pressure.
- Managing your blood sugar level, especially if you’ve been diagnosed with Diabetes..
- Maintaining a healthy cholesterol level.
