Coronary Artery Disease

CAD happens when the blood vessels that supply the heart with oxygenated blood become narrowed or blocked. Narrowing or blockages are usually caused by a buildup of plaque made up of cholesterol, fat, calcium, and other substances.

Your heart is a muscle and needs a steady flow of blood to work properly. When blood flow is reduced by a narrow or blocked artery, you may feel chest pain/pressure, feel short of breath, fatigued or weak. If the plaque ruptures, it can cause a sudden blockage that can lead to a heart attack.

CAD usually develops slowly over time. The more risk factors someone has, the higher their chance of developing CAD. Risk factors include:

• High cholesterol
• High blood pressure
• Diabetes
• Smoking
• Obesity
• Physical inactivity
• Family history of heart disease

Some people have clear warning signs like chest pain with exertion. Others have no symptoms at all until the disease is advanced and causing complications.

Symptoms of CAD include:

• Chest pressure, tightness, or pain
• Shortness of breath
• Pain in the arm, neck, jaw or back
• Unusual fatigue
• Nausea or lightheadedness

It is important to note, symptoms can look different in women than in men, which is one reason CAD can be missed.

Treatment depends on the individual patient and their whole health picture. Options may include:

• Lifestyle changes, such as diet, exercise and quitting smoking
• Medications to lower cholesterol, control blood pressure or prevent clots
• Minimally invasive procedures to open narrowed arteries such as angioplasty with a stent or drug-coated balloon
• Surgery, in severe cases