Can coronary heart disease be fatal?

In real life, coronary heart disease (CHD) is a common and highly dangerous condition. It poses serious threats to patients’ health and causes them significant suffering. Prompt treatment of this disease is therefore essential. But can CHD be fatal?

Can Coronary Heart Disease Be Fatal?

Yes—patients with CHD can die, particularly those who develop myocardial infarction (heart attack). Necrosis of cardiac myocytes often leads to electrical instability on electrocardiography (ECG), clinically manifesting as various arrhythmias—including malignant arrhythmias such as ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation—resulting in a high mortality rate. Anterior wall myocardial infarction is especially likely to impair the heart’s pumping function, leading to heart failure and further complicating emergency resuscitation efforts. Thus, prevention must be the primary strategy in managing CHD and reducing mortality.

CHD can indeed lead to death. The underlying pathology involves atherosclerotic changes in the coronary arteries—or formation of lipid-rich plaques—which reduce arterial elasticity and cause progressive narrowing of the coronary vessels. Under resting conditions, compensatory mechanisms may maintain adequate blood flow and oxygen delivery to the myocardium. However, during physical exertion or stress, these compensatory mechanisms become inadequate, resulting in worsening myocardial ischemia and hypoxia—and consequently, angina (chest pain). If a lipid plaque ruptures and occludes a coronary artery, it may trigger acute myocardial infarction, malignant arrhythmias, or sudden cardiac death.

We recommend that patients maintain good personal hygiene, adopt an optimistic mindset, and abstain from smoking and alcohol consumption—all of which support effective treatment. We hope this information proves helpful to you.