133 Pleasant Street, Berlin, NH 03570 603-752-2040 Donations
|
|
133 Pleasant Street, Berlin, NH 03570 603-752-2040 Donations |
|
| Coronary Artery Disease
(National Heart Lung and Blood Institutes) Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a condition in which plaque builds up inside the coronary arteries. These arteries supply your heart muscle with oxygen-rich blood. Plaque is made up of fat, cholesterol, calcium, and other substances found in the blood. Plaque narrows arteries and reduces blood flow to your heart muscle. CAD is the most common type of heart disease. It’s the leading cause of death in the United States for both men and women. Lifestyle changes, medicines, and/or medical procedures can effectively prevent or treat CAD in most people. Contributing Factors of Coronary Artery Disease • Smoking • High amounts of certain fats and cholesterol in the blood • High blood pressure • High amounts of sugar in the blood due to insulin resistance or diabetes • Alcohol • Stress • Overweight or Obesity • Lack of physical activity • Age ○ in men, the risk for CAD increases after age 45. ○ in women, the risk for CAD risk increase after age 55. • Family history of early heart disease Although age and family history of early heart disease are risk factors, it doesn’t mean that you will develop CAD if you have one or both. Making lifestyle changes and/or taking medicines to treat other risk factors can often lessen genetic influences and prevent CAD from developing, even in older adults. Signs and Symptoms of Coronary Artery Disease A common symptom of coronary artery disease (CAD) is angina. Angina may fell like pressure or a squeezing pain in your chest. You also may feel it in your shoulders, arms, neck, jaw, or back. This pain tends to get worse with activity and go away when you rest. Emotional stress also can trigger the pain. Another common symptom of CAD is shortness of breath. Diagnostic Tests and Procedures Your doctor will diagnose coronary artery disease (CAD) based on: • Your medical and family histories • Your risk factors • The results of a physical exam and diagnostic tests and procedures No single test can diagnose CAD. If your doctor thinks you have CAD, he or she will probably do one or more of the following tests: EKG (Electrocardiogram): An EKG is a simple test that detects and records the electrical activity of your heart. Stress Testing: During stress testing, you exercise to make your heart work hard and beat fast while heart tests are performed. Echocardiography: This test uses sound waves to create a moving picture of your heart. Chest X Ray: A chest x-ray takes a picture of the organs and structures inside the chest, including your heart, lungs, and blood vessels. Blood Tests: Blood tests check the levels of certain fats, cholesterol, sugar, and proteins in your blood. Abnormal levels may show that you have risk factors for CAD. Treatment Treatment for coronary artery disease (CAD) may include lifestyle changes, medicines, and medical procedures. The goals of treatments are to: • Relieve symptoms • Reduce risk factors in an effort to slow, stop, or reverse the buildup of plaque • Lower the risk of blood clots forming, which can cause a heart attack • Widen or bypass clogged arteries • Prevent complications of CAD Lifestyle Changes Making lifestyle changes can often help prevent or treat CAD. For some people, these changes may be the only treatment needed: • Follow a heart healthy eating plan to prevent or reduce high blood pressure • Increase your physical activity. Check with your doctor first to find out how much and what kinds of activity are safe for you. • Lose weight, if you’re overweight or obese. • Quit smoking, if you smoke. Avoid exposure to secondhand smoke. • Learn to cope with or reduce stress Medication You may need medication to treat CAD if lifestyle changes aren’t enough. Medications can: • Decrease the workload on your heart and relieve CAD symptoms • Decrease your change of having a heart attack or dying suddenly • Lower your cholesterol and blood pressure • Prevent blood clots • Prevent or delay the need for a special procedure (for example, angioplasty or coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) For more information visit: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov www.mayoclinc.com/health/coronary-artery-disease/ www.webmd.com www.americanheart.org www.emedicinehealth.com |