Is a CHD inherited? | Coronary heart disease (CHD)

Is a CHD inherited?

Coronary heart disease is not inherited in the classical sense. However, there is a familial risk if one or both parents also suffer from a vascular disease at the age of under 60 years. Vascular calcification (arteriosclerosis) plays an important role here, as it is a major risk factor for the development of coronary heart disease.

Classification into asymptomatic and symptomatic CHD

The reduced oxygen supply to the heart muscle cells (myocardial ischemia) manifests itself in various forms:

• Asymptomatic CHD, also called silent myocardial ischemia: The patient feels no discomfort. Some patients with coronary heart disease, especially those with diabetes mellitus and smokers, suffer painless attacks of angina pectoris. Although the heart muscle is undersupplied and the oxygen supply is too low, patients do not feel any tightness on their chest. This clinically silent form of CHD can lead to cardiac insufficiency, sudden cardiac death or cardiac arrhythmia despite the absence of symptoms.
• Symptomatic oxygen deficiency (ischemia) that causes symptoms: Angina pectoris (the terms thoracic pain, “tightness of the heart”, “tightness of the chest” are used synonymously)
• Angina pectoris (the terms thoracic pain, “tightness of the heart”, “tightness of the chest” are used synonymously)
• Angina pectoris (the terms thoracic pain, “tightness of the heart”, “tightness of the chest” are used synonymously)

Complications

Coronary heart disease is present in over 80% of patients who suffer sudden cardiac death. About 25% of patients with CHD die of sudden cardiac death due to cardiac arrhythmia. Myocardial infarction is a dreaded complication of coronary artery disease.

In the course of coronary heart disease, the coronary arteries undergo pathological changes. Plaques form in the interior of the vessels (vascular lumens) and the blood flow in the affected areas is reduced. It can happen that the vessel wall tears and small blood clots form.

These blood clots can lead to the closure of a coronary artery and cause a heart attack. To prevent a heart attack, it is important to treat coronary artery disease as early as possible and to take the medication regularly. Many heart rhythm disturbances are associated with coronary artery disease. The rhythm of the heart beat can be slowed (bradycardic arrhythmia) or accelerated (tachycardic arrhythmia). If there is a permanent undersupply of the heart muscle and muscle cells have possibly died, the heart may be restricted in its function: As a suction-pressure pump, it maintains the blood pressure in the vascular system through its regular beating and ensures the blood supply (perfusion) to all organs – if there is coronary artery disease with narrowed vascular lumina, the supply to the heart itself is insufficient and the pumping capacity insufficient (insufficiency).