ABSTRACT
Coronary heart disease (CHD) is a condition of the coronary blood vessels that supply the heart. The main features are related to the development of atheroma, which can predispose to an acute situation such as myocardial infarction. A raised level of cholesterol in the bloodstream is a risk factor for the development of CHD. This chapter introduces John Edmonds, a patient with CHD. Treatments are directed at reperfusing the damaged coronary artery and thus limiting cardiac damage aspirin and thrombolysis and at treating ongoing problems, such as heart failure diuretics, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and beta-blockers. Contraindications for thrombolytic therapy include a previous history of haemorrhagic stroke, any internal bleeding, and gastrointestinal bleeding. Hyperlipidaemia is a continuously high concentration of lipids such as cholesterol in the bloodstream. It produces atherosclerotic changes. Statins are recommended by the National Service Framework (NSF) for Coronary Heart Disease as the medication of choice to reduce circulating blood levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL).
