Coronary Artery Disease

Recognition, Treatment and Prevention

Coronary Artery Disease or CAD, is a disease that affects the blood vessels that nourish the heart muscle.  CAD is actually a result of atherosclerosis-a build-up of fatty substances on the inner walls of the coronary arteries. When the coronary arteries become clogged or narrowed by these waxy "fats", blood flow is restricted and the heart muscle does not receive adequate oxygen which can cause heart attack and even death.  While the precise causes of CAD are not known, there are many factors that may contribute to developing this disease.  For your heart's health, recognize early "warning signs" of CAD, understand what can be done if you suffer from the disease, and how you yourself may be able to prevent (or slow) its progress.

Recognize Warning Signs

In many cases, chest pain, (angina) may occur when the heart is not receiving enough oxygen.  Angina may be worst during exercise or stress when there are increased oxygen demands on the heart.  Always see your doctor if you experience recurrent chest pain.  Your physician can check your blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and heart function, and advise you about how to reduce your risk for heart attack. Unfortunately, for many people, the first "sign" of CAD is a heart attack.  Everyone should know about the common signs that may signal a heart attack: pain that spreads from the shoulders, neck or arms; pressure, uncomfortable "fullness" in the chest; dizziness, nausea, and/or shortness of breath.  If you experience any of these warning signs, call for emergency medical help immediately.

Treatments for CAD

If you have CAD, your doctor may want to try one or more of the following methods of treatment.  Medications can reduce blood pressure, oxygen demand, and relieve excess strain on the heart, but they cannot clear an already blocked artery.  Angioplasty expands narrowed arteries by inflating a catheter-guided balloon in the area of the blockage. Bypass surgery improves blood flow by grafting blood vessels (from your arm or leg) around the blocked coronary arteries.

Prevention

The single most important thing you can do to prevent heart disease is not to smoke, or if you do, to stop. You can also follow the American Heart Association's guidelines for a healthy diet: limit dietary cholesterol to no more than 300 mg. per day; limit your intake of fat of 30% or less of your daily calories; limit added salt and foods that are high in sodium and eat plenty of complex carbohydrates. (Note: If you already suffer from CAD, high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol your doctor may recommend limits lower than these general guidelines.) Regular aerobic exercise (3-5 times a week for 20-30 minutes a session) will also strengthen your heart, improve oxygen supply, and actually help control cholesterol. It is also important to have your blood pressure checked annually. Although it is a leading risk factor for heart attack and stroke, high blood pressure can be controlled.

Living with CAD

Since many factors, like heredity, can affect your risk for developing CAD, not everyone will be able to prevent its occurrence. If you have CAD, you can, however, slow its progress by using the guidelines above and following your physician's advice.