Often, minor or even major chest pains are not taken seriously. People assume that the pain will subside on its own or take a few medications. However, if your chest pain is not healing on its own and keeps coming back, it might be a sign of a more severe underlying heart condition.
Microvascular coronary disease or MCD, commonly known as small vessel disease, is a disease where the small arteries, arterioles, and capillaries get affected and stop functioning properly. If you suspect something dangerous, diagnose your microvascular disease in Sebring and explore your treatment options.
What Is Microvascular Disease?
Microvascular coronary disease is a heart disease where the walls of your heart’s smallest arteries get damaged and thus, cannot work properly. This condition causes the small blood vessels to narrow down, which causes a reduced flow of oxygen-rich blood to your heart. When a sufficient amount of oxygen does not reach your heart, it can cause severe chest pain or angina, shortness of breath, and show other signs and symptoms of heart disease.
MCD is also known as small vessel disease or microvascular endothelial dysfunction. Although the conditions are treatable, the symptoms can often go unnoticed. Some people may assume that the chest pain is not severe and leave it be, further worsening the condition.
Symptoms of Microvascular Coronary Disease
If you have the following symptoms, you must seek consultation from your doctor.
- Chest pain that lasts between ten minutes to an hour.
- Shortness of breath.
- Squeezing feeling or discomfort in your chest. This feeling may get worse with emotional stress.
- Discomfort in the jaw, neck, left arm, back, and abdomen, along with the chest.
- Fatigue or tiredness.
When to Seek Help
One should seek emergency medical help when they experience chest pains and other symptoms of MCD, nausea, dizziness, sweating, and pain in their back and both arms. If you have taken two doses of nitroglycerin and the chest pain is still there, it is a sign of an emergency. You may also feel like you will pass out because of the pain.
In some people, chest pain may not occur, or the symptoms may not be clear. Such cases can worsen the condition. Therefore, it is a good practice to visit your doctor regularly and tell them about any unexplained discomfort, no matter how minor, to avoid worsening conditions.
Risk Factors
Certain people are more at risk for acquiring MCD than others:
- Obesity.
- Gender (this condition is more common in women than men).
- Diabetes.
- High blood pressure.
- Age.
- Smoking.
- Unhealthy diet.
- Insulin resistance.
- Inactivity.