Definition of Sitting Wind
Sitting wind or angina is a disease characterized by chest pain due to the heart muscle not getting enough oxygen from the blood stream. The blood supply to the heart muscle is disrupted due to narrowing or blockage of the blood vessels. Sitting winds can occur suddenly.
Causes of Sitting Wind
In order to work properly, the heart needs enough oxygen-rich blood. Blood for the heart is supplied by two large vessels known as the coronary vessels. The main cause of angina is the narrowing or blockage of the coronary vessels. Here are some types of sitting winds that can occur.
- Stable angina
Generally, this condition is triggered by physical activity, such as sports. When a person exercises, his heart will need more oxygen from the bloodstream. This need will not be fulfilled if there is a blockage or narrowing of the coronary vessels. Stable angina attacks can also be triggered by other things, such as smoking, stress, overeating, and cold air.
- Unstable angina
This situation is triggered by fat deposits or blood clots that reduce or block blood flow to the heart. Even though the sufferer has taken medication and rest, chest pain due to unstable wind will still be there. If not handled properly, an attack of unstable sitting winds can develop into a heart attack.
- Variant angina (Prinzmetal seated angina)
In this condition, the heart arteries narrow temporarily due to spasm or stiffness of the blood vessels. Even people who are resting can be affected by a variant sitting wind. This is because variant sitting winds can occur at any time. This temporary narrowing of the blood vessels causes the supply of oxygen from the bloodstream to the heart to decrease and chest pain arises. The symptoms of angina in this variant can be relieved with medication.
Sitting Wind Symptoms
People with angina will usually experience various symptoms, including:
- Chest pain that can radiate to the left arm, neck, jaw and back.
- The chest feels like it is being squeezed or pressed by a heavy object.
- Hard to breathe.
- The body feels tired
- Nauseous
- Dizzy
- Nervous
- Excessive sweating
- Faint
Sitting Wind Diagnosis
Apart from carrying out a physical examination and asking about the history of the symptoms experienced by the sufferer, there are several other examinations that will generally be carried out by a doctor, such as:
- Electrocardiogram (EKG). The use of an EKG or heart record aims to see if the blood flow of the sufferer is impaired or decreased.
- This examination is carried out to assess the function of heart muscle contraction and the function of heart valves which can decrease if there is damage to the heart muscle due to disruption of blood flow or parts of the heart that don't get enough blood flow.
- Cardiac endurance test (Exercise Tolerance Test). The main purpose of this examination is to measure the heart's endurance when doing physical activity before symptoms of sitting winds appear.
- Cardiac scintigraphy. This examination is carried out to determine if the blood flow in the blood vessels is disturbed.
- Coronary vascular angiography. This examination aims to find out whether the coronary arteries are blocked and how severe the blockage is.
- Blood test. This examination aims to measure levels of cardiac enzymes in the blood to determine heart damage due to a heart attack.
- Chest X-ray (X-ray). This examination is to see if the symptoms felt by the sufferer are caused by conditions other than wind sitting or to see if there is an enlarged heart.
- Heart CT scan. This examination aims to determine the presence and severity of narrowing in the heart vessels and whether there is an enlargement of the heart that is not too visible from the results of a chest X-Ray.
Sitting Wind Treatment
Treatment of angina aims to reduce the severity of the symptoms and reduce the risk of a person having a heart attack which can result in death. If the symptoms are still mild or moderate, leaving bad habits and living a healthy lifestyle can be done as a treatment for sitting wind. Generally, doctors will provide action procedures or some prescription drugs for people with angina, including:
- Angioplasty surgery with the placement of stents in the blood vessels of the heart. This procedure is the main procedure in the treatment of coronary artery blockages. This procedure aims to improve blood flow and widen blood vessels by using a special small balloon that is inflated, then the blood vessel is stented so that blood flow remains smooth in the blocked part of the blood vessel.
- Nitrate drugs. The main function of this drug is to relax stiff blood vessels so that blood can flow smoothly towards the heart.
- Medicines to prevent blood clots. This drug functions to separate blood pieces and prevent blood clots.
- Calcium channel blocker drugs. This drug can improve blood flow in the heart and relieve or prevent the symptoms of angina.
- Beta blocker drugs. This drug works by counteracting the effects of the hormone adrenaline, so that blood pressure decreases and heart rhythm decreases.
- Drugs that lower cholesterol levels in the body. Thus, prevention of damage to blood vessels can be done by consuming this drug.
- Drugs that function to reduce blood clotting levels, so that blood will easily flow through even the narrowest vessels.
- Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (ACE) inhibitor drugs. This drug functions to inhibit the activity of a hormone that can narrow blood vessels.
- bypass operation. This procedure aims to divert the route of blood flow so that it does not pass through blocked or damaged blood vessels by using blood vessels from other parts of the body.
Sitting Wind Prevention
There are various preventive measures that can be taken for angina, including:
- Exercising
- Eat healthy foods for the heart
- Avoid foods that are harmful to the heart
- Maintain ideal body weight
- Limit consumption of alcoholic beverages
- Quit smoking
This article was written by dr. Kabul Priyantoro, Sp.JP (K), FIHA (Heart and Blood Vessel Specialist at EMC Cikarang Hospital).