Coronary Angiography is an X-ray of the arteries in the heart. It helps in viewing how blood flows in the arteries.

How Coronary Angiography is done?

Coronary Angiography is done using a thin flexible tube called Catheter. Through the catheter, a liquid dye is injected into the desired artery. The point from where the catheter is drawn can be arm or groin. This point is cleaned and numbed with local anesthesia.  Then the hollow tube called catheter is induced into the artery and the dye injected to show the flow of blood on the X-ray. Wherever there is a blockage or narrowing blood vessel, it shows on the X-ray. The whole process took nearly 30 to 60 minutes.

In Coronary angiography, the patient is discharged from the hospital after several hours or the next day.

Precautions and Risks after Angiography:

There are some precautions that every heart patient undergone Angiography should follow.

They must take ample liquid diet to prevent dehydration and for flushing of excess dye injected during the procedure.

Do not lift heavy objects for a week if the catheter is injected through the groin.

Puncture site may be slightly bruised and have a small bump for some days.

Call the cardiologist or visit the hospital if symptoms like bleeding, new bruising or swelling, discomfort at the catheter site.

Infection, such as redness or fever, change in color of the leg or arm that was used for the procedure and Weakness or numbness in the leg or arm where the catheter was inserted.

Cholesterol being waxy in nature doesn’t dissolve in the blood. So to be transported in the bloodstream, it is divided into two forms known as LDL (low-density lipids) and HDL (High- Density lipids). LDL is known as Bad cholesterol and HDL as good cholesterol.

As cholesterol is produced by our own body, thus we do not require it from an outside source. The outside source like trans fat, saturated fats, a diet rich in cholesterol only increases the cholesterol level and trigger the body to produce more which is very much harmful to the Heart or coronary arteries.

Foods that are low in saturated fat and free of cholesterol can help in lowering blood cholesterol level. And these include plants that are rich in soluble fiber, which helps lower cholesterol by lowering the absorption of cholesterol and reduces the amount of cholesterol the liver produces. Oatmeal, barley, beans, nuts, and some fruits and vegetables are all good sources of soluble fiber.

There are many studies through which it is found that vegetarian diet holders as compared to non-vegetarian are less prone to heart diseases. It is recommended to adopt a low-fat, plant-based diet, get daily exercise, avoid tobacco, and manage stress to reverse the chance of heart disease.

This article is intended to promote understanding of and knowledge about general heart health topics. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your cardiologist or another qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment.