Many people have a headache after getting the results of their heart examinations, because the reports describe a variety of terms for cardiovascular diseases: stenosis, sclerosis, calcification, blockage... Are these problems mild or severe? Should I take medicine or undergo surgery? Let's find out together:

1. Stenosis vs. Myocardial Bridge

They are the two most common causes of cardiovascular stenosis.

Stenosis usually refers to the permanent reduction of the cardiovascular lumen caused by atherosclerotic plaques. In severe cases, it can cause angina pectoris or even myocardial infarction, which is what we often call coronary heart disease. It requires long-term treatment with antiplatelet and statin drugs.

Coronary artery CTA and angiography are important methods to determine the degree of stenosis. When coronary CTA shows moderate or above stenosis, further cardiac angiography is required. When angiography shows stenosis greater than 75-80%, interventional treatment such as stenting is required.

Myocardial bridge is a congenital cardiovascular malformation. It refers to a section of the coronary artery that should run on the surface of the heart (epicardium) that penetrates the myocardium and is regularly compressed with the heartbeat, causing a temporary reduction in the lumen.

Most myocardial bridges do not cause symptoms and do not require special treatment. When myocardial bridge compression causes severe ischemic symptoms, drugs such as calcium ion antagonists can be used. When drugs cannot relieve the symptoms, surgery is an effective method.

2. Sclerosis vs Atherosclerosis

Hardening is a manifestation of vascular aging. It can occur in arteries throughout the body and is usually not accompanied by vascular stenosis. Since hardening increases vascular resistance, it is a common cause of high blood pressure. Generally, the degree of hardening of blood vessels can be alleviated by actively controlling blood pressure and improving lifestyle.

Atherosclerosis is a pathological change in the cardiovascular system. It is the pathological basis for the formation of plaques and the stenosis of coronary artery disease. Smoking, hypertension, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia are the main causes. Drugs or surgical treatments should be selected according to the severity of the stenosis.

3. Plaque vs Calcification

Calcification is another form of vascular aging, which is caused by the deposition of calcium salts on the blood vessel wall. As we age, we will all have varying degrees of calcification. It can appear on cardiovascular atherosclerotic plaques or on normal aging arteries. Therefore, calcification does not necessarily mean vascular stenosis.

Plaques are caused by atherosclerosis, and further aggravation will lead to stenosis. If the plaque is unstable and ruptures, it will cause thrombosis and block the blood vessels, causing myocardial infarction. We can regard "atherosclerosis → plaque → stenosis" as the formation process of coronary heart disease.

I am Dr. Zhang from the Department of Cardiology. If you like my popular science articles, please like them! You can also share them with friends in need! Follow me to see more health knowledge about heart disease!