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What is coronary artery disease?
Coronary artery
disease is a narrowing or blockage of the coronary arteries, the arteries that
provide the heart muscle with blood. When the blood flow is slowed, the heart
doesn't get enough oxygen and nutrients. This usually results in chest pain
called angina. When one or more of the coronary arteries are completely
blocked, the result is a heart attack (injury to the heart muscle).
What causes the
coronary arteries to narrow?
Coronary arteries become narrowed or clogged by the buildup of plaque in the artery walls. Plaque is
made of excessive cholesterol and other substances floating through your
bloodstream, such as inflammatory cells, proteins, and calcium. Over time, the
inside of the arteries develop plaques of different sizes. Many of the plaque
deposits are hard on the outside and soft on the inside. The hard surface can
crack or tear, exposing the soft, fatty inside. When this happens, platelets
(disc-shaped particles in the blood that aid clotting) come to the area, and
blood clots form around the plaque. The artery then narrows further; in turn,
there is less room for blood to flow through the arteries. Plaque buildup in
the arteries is called atherosclerosis (also known as
"hardening of the arteries").
What should you do if
you have coronary artery disease?
When you have coronary artery disease, it is important to take care of your
heart. This is especially true if you have had an interventional procedure or
surgery to improve blood flow to the heart.
Procedures do not cure coronary
artery disease. It is up to you to take steps to stop the disease from
progressing.
1. Know the symptoms
for coronary artery disease
The symptoms for coronary
artery disease include:
- Chest
discomfort (described as numbness, heaviness, dull aching, or burning; may
radiate to left shoulder, arms, neck, back, or jaw)
- Shortness
of breath
- Palpitations
(a fluttering feeling, skipped beats)
- Faster
heart rate
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Extreme
weakness
Call your doctor if
symptoms become more frequent or severe.
Call for emergency
assistance if rest and/or medications do not relieve symptoms within 15
minutes. DO NOT WAIT TO GET HELP.
2. Reduce your risk
factors
Medical research has
helped identify certain conditions, called risk factors, that place people at
increased risk for heart disease.
Non-modifiable risk
factors (those that cannot be changed):
- Male gender
- Older
age. Heart disease is more likely to occur as you get older.
- Family
history (including race)
Modifiable risk factors
(those you can control):
- Cigarette
smoking
- High
blood cholesterol
- High
blood pressure
- Uncontrolled
diabetes
- Physical
inactivity
- Obesity
or overweight
- Uncontrolled
stress or anger
- Diet
high in saturated fat and cholesterol
- Drinking
too much alcohol
If you have more than two of these risk factors, you should discuss them with your doctor. Your goal is to decrease your risk factors and
lessen your risk for future heart disease events. This is true if you do not
have heart or blood vessel disease, if you are being treated medically for
heart or blood vessel disease, or if you have undergone a procedure (angioplasty, stents, bypass surgery) for heart or blood vessel disease.
3. Take your
medications
Medications are used to
control your symptoms and to help your heart work more efficiently. Follow your
doctor's instructions when you take your medications.
It is important to know:
- The
names of your medications
- What
they are for
- How
often and at what times to take your medications
Keep a list of your
medications and bring them to each of your doctor visits. If you have
questions about your medications, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
4. Have procedures or
surgery – if necessary
Invasive procedures (such
as balloon angioplasty or stents) or coronary artery bypass surgery may be
needed to treat your narrowed or blocked artery. These procedures
increase blood supply to your heart, but they are not a cure for coronary
artery disease. You will still need to focus on reducing your risk
factors to prevent future disease development or progression. If these
procedures are necessary, your cardiologist or surgeon will
discuss the specific procedure with you.
5. See your
cardiologist for regular visits
Schedule regular
appointments with your cardiologist (even if you have no symptoms). Your
appointments may be scheduled once a year, or more often, if your doctor feels
you need to be followed more closely. Your appointments should include a
medical exam and diagnostic studies (such as an electrocardiogram).
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