Thursday 28 February 2019

Coronary Artery Disease

Overview

Coronary artery disease (CAD) causes impaired blood flow in the arteries that supply blood to the heart. Also called coronary heart disease (CHD), CAD is the most common form of heart disease and affects approximately 16.5 million Americans over the age of 20.

It’s also the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States. It’s estimated that every 40 seconds, someone in the United States has a heart attack.
A heart attack can come from uncontrolled CAD.

Causes of coronary artery disease

The most common cause of CAD is a vascular injury with cholesterol plaque buildup in the arteries, known as atherosclerosis. Reduced blood flow occurs when one or more of these arteries become partially or completely blocked.

The four primary coronary arteries are located on the surface of the heart:
  • right main coronary artery
  • left main coronary artery
  • left circumflex artery
  • left anterior descending artery
These arteries bring oxygen and nutrient-rich blood to your heart. Your heart is a muscle that’s responsible for pumping blood throughout your body. According to the Cleveland Clinic, a healthy heart moves approximately 3,000 gallons of blood through your body every day.
Like any other organ or muscle, your heart must receive an adequate, dependable supply of blood in order to carry out its work. Reduced blood flow to your heart can cause symptoms of CAD.
Other rare causes of damage or blockage to a coronary artery also limit blood flow to the heart.

Symptoms of CAD
When your heart doesn’t get enough arterial blood, you may experience a variety of symptoms. Angina (chest discomfort) is the most common symptom of CAD. Some people describe this discomfort as:
  • chest pain
  • heaviness
  • tightness
  • burning
  • squeezing
These symptoms can also be mistaken for heartburn or indigestion.

Other symptoms of CAD include:
  • pain in the arms or shoulders
  • shortness of breath
  • sweating
  • dizziness

You may experience more symptoms when your blood flow is more restricted. If a blockage cuts off blood flow completely or almost completely, your heart muscle will start to die if not restored. This is a heart attack.

Don’t ignore any of these symptoms, especially if they are excruciating or last longer than five minutes. Immediate medical treatment is necessary.
Symptoms of CAD for women

Women may also experience the above symptoms, but they’re also more likely to have:
  • nausea
  • vomiting
  • back pain
  • jaw pain
  • shortness of breath without feeling chest pain

Men have a higher risk of developing heart disease than premenopausal women. Postmenopausal women by age 70 have the same risk as men.

Due to decreased blood flow, your heart may also:
  • become weak
  • develop abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmia) or rates
  • fail to pump as much blood as your body needs
Risk factors for CAD

Understanding the risk factors for CAD can help with your plan to prevent or decrease the likelihood of developing the disease.

Risk factors include:
  • high blood pressure
  • high blood cholesterol levels
  • tobacco smoking
  • insulin resistance/hyperglycemia/diabetes mellitus
  • obesity
  • inactivity
  • unhealthy eating habits
  • obstructive sleep apnea
  • emotional stress
  • excessive alcohol consumption
  • history of preeclampsia during pregnancy
The risk for CAD also increases with age. Based on age alone as a risk factor, men have a greater risk for the disease beginning at age 45 and women have a greater risk beginning at age 55. The risk for coronary artery disease is also higher if you have a family history of the disease.

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