Coronary artery disease treatment and diagnostics abroad

Coronary artery disease (CAD), also called ischemic heart disease, means the heart muscle gets too little oxygen because the coronary arteries have narrowed. The usual cause is atherosclerotic plaque; a sudden clot or spasm can block the artery completely and cause a heart attack.

Below are cardiology clinics abroad that treat CAD: compare their methods, doctors and prices.

Forms of coronary artery disease

• Silent ischemia — the arteries are narrowed but there are no symptoms.
• Angina — pressing chest pain on exertion or at rest; it may spread to the left arm, shoulder, shoulder blade or jaw.
• Heart attack (myocardial infarction) — a sudden blockage of an artery that kills part of the heart muscle.
• Rhythm disorders and sudden cardiac arrest — dangerous complications of ischemia (see arrhythmia).

Risk factors

Smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, excess weight, low physical activity, family history and age.

Diagnosis

• ECG, Holter monitoring and stress tests;
• echocardiography;
• CT coronary angiography;
• coronary angiography — the gold standard that shows where and how much an artery is narrowed.

Treatment abroad

• Medicines — reduce the load on the heart, cholesterol and the risk of clots.
• Angioplasty and coronary stenting — reopening the artery through a catheter, without opening the chest.
• Coronary artery bypass grafting — for disease of several arteries or the left main artery; many clinics offer off-pump or minimally invasive surgery.
• Cardiac rehabilitation — supervised exercise and lifestyle changes after treatment.

All clinics are in the cardiology section.

Send a request with your ECG, echo or angiography results — Clinics Direct coordinators will get a cardiologist's opinion and a cost estimate free of charge.