The heart muscle requires a steady supply of oxygenated blood. The coronary arteries, which branch from the aorta shortly after it leaves the heart, transport this blood. Coronary artery disease, which causes one or more of these arteries to constrict and impede blood flow, can result in chest pain (angina) or a heart attack.
CAD is the most common type of heart disease. It occurs when something, such as plaque formation, impairs blood flow to the heart. It may raise your risk of having a heart attack. Coronary heart disease progresses slowly. You may not have any symptoms during the early stages of the disease. If you want to know more about it, this article shares information about coronary artery disease and its treatments.
What Is Coronary Artery Disease?
Coronary artery disease is a narrowing or blockage of the coronary arteries, which carry oxygen-rich blood to the heart. This happens when plaque (including cholesterol) builds up in these arteries over time, limiting the amount of blood that can reach your heart muscle.
Imagine two traffic lanes merging into one owing to construction. Traffic continues to flow, but more slowly. With coronary artery disease, you may not realize anything is amiss until the plaque causes a blood clot. The blood clot resembles a concrete barricade in the middle of the road. Traffic has stopped. Similarly, blood cannot reach the heart, resulting in a heart attack.
When the coronary arteries are extremely thin, blood flow is restricted. You may get angina symptoms such as chest pain or shortness of breath while performing exercises. That’s because not enough blood is reaching your heart muscle.
You may have CAD for many years with no symptoms until you suffer a heart attack. That’s why CAD is a silent killer. You can also check for silent heart attack symptoms, if any. CAD is also called coronary heart disease or ischemic heart disease. It is also what most people mean when they use the broad term heart disease.
Types Of Coronary Artery Disease
Obstructive
Blood vessels are considerably constricted or obstructed.
Non-Obstructive
Blood vessels have narrowed as a result of branching off to smaller vessels or the heart muscle squeezing the vessels too tightly.
Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection (SCAD)
It is the ripping of blood vessels in the heart. Learn more about SCAD.
What Are the Causes of Coronary Artery Disease?
Atherosclerosis causes CAD. Atherosclerosis is the slow accumulation of plaque in arteries throughout your body. CAD develops when plaque disrupts blood flow in your coronary arteries.
Plaque is composed of cholesterol, waste materials, calcium, and fibrin (a protein that aids in blood clotting). As plaque accumulates along your artery walls, they narrow and stiffen. Plaque can block or damage your arteries, limiting or stopping blood flow to specific areas of your body.
When plaque builds up in your coronary arteries, your heart muscle is unable to receive adequate blood. As a result, your heart cannot receive the oxygen and nutrients it requires to function correctly (myocardial ischemia). It causes chest discomfort (angina) and increases your risk of having a heart attack.
People with plaque buildup in their coronary arteries frequently have buildup elsewhere in their bodies. This can cause illnesses such as carotid artery disease and peripheral artery disease (PAD).
Symptoms of Coronary Artery Disease
In the early stages of CAD, you may not experience any severe symptoms. However, as plaque accumulates and restricts blood flow to the heart muscle, you may experience shortness of breath or exhaustion, particularly during exercise.
The most frequent sign of coronary artery disease is angina or chest pain. Some folks think it’s heartburn or indigestion. Angina makes your chest unpleasant. You may also get the sensation in your shoulders, arms, back, or jaw.
Women and those assigned female at birth frequently experience distinct heart attack symptoms than men or those assigned male at birth. While chest pain remains the most prevalent red sign, women are more likely to experience additional symptoms such as shortness of breath, intense exhaustion, nausea, vomiting, and back and jaw discomfort.
How Is Coronary Artery Disease Diagnosed?
Your doctor will examine you and discuss your symptoms, hazards, and family history. You may also receive tests for coronary artery disease.
- The electrocardiogram (EKG) examines the electrical activity of the heart and can diagnose heart disease.
- A stress test typically involves walking on a treadmill or riding a stationary cycle at a doctor’s office while your heart rate and blood pressure are monitored.
- A chest X-ray can also help to check if your heart is functioning well or not. It is also useful to check if any other complications are there.
- A heart calcium scan, or cardiac calcium scan, looks for calcium deposits that are clogging your arteries and making it difficult for blood to flow through them.
- Blood tests to assess your levels of blood sugar, cholesterol, and triglycerides.
- Cardiac catheterization is a procedure in which a doctor guides a thin, flexible tube (known as a catheter) through a blood vessel in your arm or leg to reach your heart. The doctor injects dye into the catheter and then uses X-rays to see into your heart.
Treatment for Coronary Artery Disease
Medications
You may need to take medications to help your heart stay healthy. Blood thinners (anticoagulants), aspirin and other anti-clotting medications, ACE inhibitors, beta-blockers, nitroglycerin, calcium channel blockers, immunosuppressants, statins, and PCSK9s are among the examples.
Coronary Artery Bypass Graft
During this procedure, surgeons use blood channels from other regions of your body to navigate around obstructions in your coronary arteries. It’s a big operation that will likely require you to stay in the hospital for at least 5 days.
Angioplasty
This treatment can clear blocked or constricted arteries without opening your chest. During angioplasty, a doctor inserts a thin, flexible tube containing a balloon into your blood vessels until it reaches the cloggedartery. The doctor next inflates the balloon, stretching the artery open and allowing more blood to flow. In many cases, a small tube known as a stent is used to keep the blood channel open. You’ll normally be in and out of the hospital in one day.
Cardiac Rehabilitation and Recovery
If you’ve had a heart attack or undergone cardiac surgery, your doctor will most likely recommend that you participate in a cardiac rehab program to aid in recovery. Cardiac rehabilitation will begin while you are in the hospital, followed by outpatient treatments when you return home.
Lifestyle Changes
Choose foods that are low in trans fat, saturated fat, simple sugars, and sodium. Try and make simple, heart-healthy food recipes to promote better health. Quit smoking and drinking. Be active, ideally for 30 minutes or more each day. (First, ask your doctor if there are any limitations to what you can accomplish.) Work to maintain a healthy weight. Learn how to effectively manage your stress.
Risk Factors of Coronary Artery Disease
Risk factors for heart disease are conditions or practices that increase the likelihood of developing the disease. Certain risk factors for coronary artery disease can be altered, while others cannot.
- High Blood Pressure, elevated blood cholesterol and triglyceride, diabetes
- Unhealthy weight, poor diet, and excessive alcohol consumption.
- Not enough physical activity or movement
- Smoking or chewing tobacco can cause stress and unhappiness.
- The chance of developing heart disease increases with age. According to data from CDC Gov.com, 1 out of 20 people face CAD after the age of 20.
- Following menopause, you are more likely to have heart disease and stroke.
- Family history If you have a close relative who developed heart disease at a young age, you are at a higher risk.
- Your health is influenced by both your circumstances and your surroundings.
Complications Of Coronary Artery Disease
Angina Refers To Chest Pain
Coronary artery disease causes plaque buildup inside your arteries, narrowing them over time. As a result, your heart may not receive enough blood when needed, such as during exercise, and you may experience chest pain and shortness of breath.
Heart Failure
This occurs when your heart cannot pump enough blood. If you have restricted arteries or high blood pressure, the walls of your heart may weaken or stiffen, making it difficult for your heart to function properly.
Heart Attack
This is the most prevalent complication of coronary artery disease. Heart attacks occur when a fragment of cholesterol plaque breaks off and forms a blood clot, preventing blood flow to the heart. A shortage of blood harms the heart muscle, and if not treated, a heart attack can be fatal.
Arrhythmias
If your heart doesn’t receive enough blood, it may begin to beat erratically. Some arrhythmias are life-threatening.
Prevention Of CAD
Fortunately, there are several things you can take to lower your risk of developing CAD.
Understand Your Risk
Speak with your doctor about getting your cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood sugar examined. If you have high cholesterol, high blood pressure, or diabetes, you must manage them.
Aim For A Healthy Body Weight
If you’re not sure what your desired weight should be, consult your doctor. And if you have a lot of weight to lose, remember that even a small amount of weight loss is beneficial.
Limit Your Alcohol Intake and Smoking
If you smoke, quit. One or two drinks may be beneficial to the heart, but excessive consumption is dangerous. Men should limit their alcohol consumption to two drinks per day, and women to one.
Eat Smartly
Consume whole foods and avoid trans fats, which can be found in baked products, deep-fried foods, and processed foods. Consume plenty of fiber-rich foods, including fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and legumes.
Exercise Regularly
You should exercise for at least 30 minutes at a moderate level. Consult your doctor before starting a new fitness routine.
Manage Your Stress Level
Use tactics like exercise, meditation, and other relaxing activities.
Conclusion
If you have coronary artery disease, you will have regular check-ups with your doctor and a cardiologist. But if you notice any changes in your symptoms or if you experience adverse effects related to your medications between those visits, seek out your doctor. They can also address any questions or concerns you may have about your treatment plan.
If your symptoms change, always consult your doctor, and seek their advice before making any big changes to your routine. Contact the Cardiology & Vascular Care Center experts, they will give you the best treatment and advice.
Please note that the information in this blog is for generic use. If you face severe symptoms, you must contact and consult a doctor immediately.
FAQs
How Long Can CAD Sufferers Survive?
With correct diagnosis and treatment, most people with Coronary Artery Disease can live long and productive lives, although the severity of the ailment and how it is managed have a substantial impact on lifespan.
Can CAD Be Cured?
While there is no cure for CAD, it can be effectively controlled with lifestyle modifications, drugs, and, in some cases, treatments or surgery to restore blood flow to the heart.
Which Foods Are Good For Your Heart?
For a healthy heart, eat enough fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean protein, and healthy fats, while reducing saturated and trans fats, sodium, and added sugars.
What Is The Optimal Treatment For Coronary Artery Disease?
Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) improves blood flow to the heart by bypassing blocked arteries with healthy arteries from the chest and veins from the legs. CABG is most commonly used by surgeons to treat people who have significant CAD in several arteries.
How Can I Make My Heart Stronger?
To strengthen your heart, combine regular exercise, a heart-healthy diet, stress management, adequate sleep, and stopping smoking or avoiding tobacco usage.