CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE (CAD)

If you or a member of your family has been diagnosed with coronary artery disease (CAD), you may have questions about the disease and its treatment, especially if your doctor has recommended angioplasty followed by Implantation of a drug eluting coronary stent.

In this blog I will answers some of the questions patients with coronary artery Disease often ask.

• Angioplasty: A balloon procedure to open an obstruction or narrowing of a blood vessel. Also known as precutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA).

• Stent: An expandable, slotted metal tube, inserted into a vessel. A stent acts as a scaffold to provide structural support for a vessel. A drug-eluting stent allows  for the active release of that particular drug at the stent implantation site.

• Atherosclerosis:  A disease process in which fatty substances (plaque), such as cholesterol, are deposited on the inner lining of blood vessels.

• Angina (Pectoris): Chest discomfort, pain, tightness or pressure. May also have associated pain in neck, jaw, back or arm. May include profuse sweating, nausea, or shortness of breath. Angina may be a single symptom or a combination of these symptoms.

WHAT CAUSES CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE?

The heart is a muscle that acts like a pump to move blood throughout the body.

To function properly, the heart must receive oxygen.

Oxygen is supplied to the heart by the coronary (heart) arteries that wrap around the surface of the heart.

When coronary artery disease (CAD) is present, blood flow through the arteries can be reduced. When this happens, the heart muscle may not receive enough oxygen, and chest pain (called angina) may be felt.

CAD is caused by the build-up of fatty substances, such as cholesterol, that collect along the lining of the coronary arteries, in a process known as atherosclerosis.

You may hear this referred to as a “plaque,” “lesion,” “blockage” or “stenosis.” This means that there is a narrowing in the artery caused by a build-up of substances which may eventually block the flow of blood.

Because the coronary arteries supply oxygen-rich blood to the heart, untreated

Blockages can be very serious and can lead to a heart attack (myocardial infarction) or even death.

Over the course of a person’s lifetime many influences can cause one or more of your coronary arteries to become narrowed or blocked.

Coronary Arteries: The coronary arteries are special blood vessels which supply the heart with necessary oxygen and nutrients. The heart does not function pro­perly without enough oxygen.

Coronary Artery Disease Atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries.

Myocardial Infarction commonly called a "heart attack". Involves irreversible damage to heart issue/muscle when the coronary arteries supplying the muscle is totally occluded  he Insufficient oxygen reaching the heart muscle via the coronary arteries may cause angina, heart attack (myocardial infarction), or even death to the affected area of the heart.

SYMPTOMS OF HEART DISEASE

Coronary artery disease can progress very slowly, often without symptoms. Most people do not realize that they have heart disease. In fact, the first sign that something may be wrong could be an episode of angina, or even a heart attack.Typical angina symptoms are feelings of pressure, tightness, or pain in the chest, arm, back, neck or jaw.Symptoms also include heartburn, nausea, vomiting, excessive sweating, fatigue or shortness of breath. Angina may occur as only one or many of these symptoms.

Although the exact cause of CAD is not known, there are certain risk factors that are often seen in patients with coronary artery disease. These factors include: high blood pressure, having a close relative with heart disease, high cholesterol and/or triglycerides in your blood, diabetes, smoking, excessive weight, and lack of a regular exercise program.

Males are more likely to develop coronary artery disease than females. In addition, menopausal status in women may play a role in coronary artery disease.

Risk Factors for CAD

You are at greatest risk for CAD if you:

• have high blood pressure

• are diabetic

• smoke cigarettes

• are overweight and/ or inactive

• have a relative with the disease

Cholesterol:  A substance that is present in the body and plays a role in the for­mation of blockages. Cholesterol originates in foods that are rich in animal’s fats.

Diabetes:  A disease affecting ones metabolism of glucose (sugar) which causes changes in blood vessels. These changes may aid in the development of coronary artery disease.