Coronary Artery Disease
Coronary artery disease (CAD, also called coronary heart disease or CHD) is the narrowing of the artery that supplies blood the heart muscle. Plaques build up inside the coronary arteries can cause the arteries to become narrow and stiff, which reduces their ability to carry oxygen-rich blood to your heart tissue. This can eventually lead to a heart attack.
Symptoms of coronary artery disease
Coronary artery disease develops over a long period of time. It does not usually produce any symptoms in the early stages. Severe narrowing of the arteries can cause signs and symptoms that include chest pain, an abnormal heart rhythm, heart attack or signs of heart failure.
Causes of coronary artery disease
Coronary artery disease is caused by the buildup of plaques inside the walls of the arteries of the heart. Plaques are waxy substances composed of cholesterol, cell fragments, and other materials that don’t belong in the artery wall. These substances cause the artery wall to become thickened and stiff, which restricts blood flow. When oxygenated blood is unable to move through narrowed coronary arteries to the heart muscle, a heart attack can occur.
Certain people are at higher risk of developing CAD. The major risk factors for coronary artery disease include:
- Age, men over age 45 and women over age 55 face an increased risk of CAD
- Family history of heart disease
- Smoking
- High cholesterol levels
- High blood pressure (hypertension)
- Diabetes or insulin resistance
- Being overweight
- Not exercising regularly
- Eating too many salty, fatty, sugary or processed foods
Treatment and prevention of coronary artery disease
Most cases of coronary artery disease can be prevented. Treatment and prevention strategies focus on slowing progression of the disease, restoring heart function if possible and stopping the development of plaques.
If you have high cholesterol or hypertension, your doctor may prescribe medication to treat those conditions. This can reduce your risk of developing coronary artery plaques. Treatment of severe CAD that produces symptoms may include surgical interventions to open the coronary arteries or bypass them altogether.
You might be able to prevent coronary artery disease from happening if you adopt a heart-healthy diet and exercise program. You also should stop smoking and control your blood sugar levels if you have diabetes.
The best treatment for coronary artery disease is prevention. By exercising regularly and eating healthy, you can keep your heart ticking for a lifetime.