Whether or not a chest X-ray showing atherosclerosis is important depends on the patient’s degree of atherosclerosis, symptoms, and underlying disease. If the coronary arteries of the elderly are physiologically simple atherosclerosis, no plaque stenosis, no chest tightness and chest pain, etc., it is generally not very important; if the coronary arteries have plaque stenosis, it is generally necessary to pay attention to it, and the severe stenosis may need to be implanted with a stent.
Chest X-ray is not comprehensive for evaluating the specific condition of blood vessels. If the chest X-ray shows atherosclerosis, it is recommended that further coronary artery CTA or angiography be performed to clarify the condition of blood vessels. If the patient’s coronary artery is simple atherosclerosis, there is no plaque stenosis, generally common in the elderly physiological changes, no chest tightness and chest pain and other symptoms, generally not very important, do not need special treatment.
If the degree of coronary artery stenosis <50%, generally not enough to diagnose coronary artery disease, does not belong to the critical condition, according to the patient’s underlying diseases such as hypertension, hyperlipidemia, etc. Choose valsartan, atorvastatin and other treatments, to prevent further aggravation of vascular plaque.
If the degree of coronary artery stenosis >50%, it can be diagnosed as coronary artery disease, need to take aspirin and other antiplatelet drugs, atorvastatin and other lipid-regulating drugs and so on. If the severe stenosis of coronary artery is more than 75%, and the patient is accompanied by obvious chest pain, panic and other symptoms, then it is more serious, and may need to be implanted stent treatment.
If the patient’s chest X-ray shows atherosclerosis, it is recommended to go to the cardiology department of the hospital in a timely manner to clarify the vascular condition and follow the doctor’s instructions for treatment.