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Coronary artery disease: Frequently Asked Questions

What is coronary artery disease?

Coronary artery disease or heart disease is a narrowing of the coronary arteries usually caused by a buildup of "calcified" plaque on the walls of the arteries. This plaque, if detected, is an early warning for heart disease. Coronary heart disease is America’s No. 1 killer.
Coronary artery disease refers to a narrowing of the coronary arteries, usually by a build-up of plaque on the walls, which decreases the amount of blood that can flow through them to supply the heart muscle. It is the number one cause of death of both men and women in the United States, causing 43% of all deaths. One out of every four Americans suffers from coronary artery disease that is responsible for 1.5 million heart attacks annually. ...
Coronary artery disease is a chronic condition which leads to the narrowing and hardening of the arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle itself. This narrowing leaves less room for the blood to flow through and deprives the heart muscle its needed blood. There are many risk factors which can contribute to the development of coronary artery disease. These include smoking, diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, lifestyle, and family history. ...
Coronary artery disease is a disease of the arteries that surround the heart and supply blood to the heart muscle. When those arteries harden and become partially obstructed by atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease exists. The obstruction of the coronary arties reduces the amount of blood reaching the heart muscle. When coronary artery blood flow is reduced, it may lead to pain called angina pectoris or a heart attack that scars part of the heart muscle.
Aging may cause arteries to lose some of their ability to expand, and fatty layers comprising fats, cholesterol, and other materials may accumulate along artery walls, restricting blood flow. This hardening and narrowing process is called atherosclerosis. When this condition affects coronary arteries, it is called coronary artery disease. Coronary arteries are vulnerable to atherosclerosis because they are small to begin with.
Source: cvimed.com

What is atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease?

Atherosclerosis is the name for the cholesterol plaque buildup inside your coronary arteries. The presence of atherosclerosis in your coronary arteries means the presence of Coronary Artery Disease. The greater the amount of plaque build up, the higher would be the risk of a heart attack because most heart attacks are due to plaque rupture or ulceration. When atherosclerosis advances to a stage where the blockage prevents normal blood flow to the heart muscle, it is called obstructive Coronary Artery Disease .

What is Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)?

Coronary Artery Disease is atherosclerosis of the inner lining of the blood vessel that supplies blood to the heart. CAD is a common form of heart disease, and is a major cause of illness and death. The symptoms of CAD include chest pain, angina, heart attack, and sudden death.
Blockage in the main arteries of the heart is labeled as Coronary Artery Disease. Q.2.
CAD is a condition in which fatty deposits accumulate in the cells lining the Coronary Arteries(atherosclerosis), which is the source of blood supply to the heart. This results in narrowing of the lumen and obstruction of blood flow. For the heart to contract and pump blood normally, the heart muscle requires a continuous supply ofoxygen rich blood from Coronary Arteries. As the obstruction in the Coronary Artery worsens, there is ina dequate blood supply to the heart muscle causing damage. ...
Coronary artery disease — also known as CAD — occurs when the arteries and blood vessels that provide oxygen and nutrients to the heart become narrow or blocked. CAD is the result of atherosclerosis, which is simply a build-up of fatty substances on the inside of the walls of the artery. When the blockage gets too large, blood flow to the heart is restricted or, in the case of a heart attack, completely cut off. CAD is the leading cause of death among both men and women in the United States. Q.

What are the symptoms of Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)?

You may not know you have CAD until you have symptoms from clogged arteries. Chest pain (angina) and shortness of breath can be the first signs of CAD. Some people don't know they have CAD until they have a heart attack. If you have risk factors for CAD, you should speak with your health care provider about how to lower your risk.
Source: www.kten.com

What are the treatments for Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)?

There are 3 main treatments for CAD - medicines, interventional procedures like angioplasty and stenting that open blocked arteries, and bypass surgery.
Source: www.kten.com

What are the stages of coronary artery disease?

Lesion development within an artery follows these stages: Different substances, such as lipids (fat), cells, tissue, and calcium gather over time within the layers of the arterial wall. This causes damage to the arterial wall and narrows the blood flow passage. As a result of this, one of three types of lesions may occur: Fatty streak– a buildup of lipids (fat) within the arterial wall. ...
Source: www.sjm.com

IS CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE TREATABLE?

Yes. The plaque build-up process can be slowed, stabilized and reversed through dietary and lifestyle modifications and through appropriate medical regimens. This must be done with the guidance of your physician.
Yes, the plaque build-up process can be slowed, stabilized and reversed, in some cases, through aggressive lifestyle modification and/or through medication therapies under the guidance of your physician.

How is coronary artery disease diagnosed?

The gold standard for diagnosis of coronary artery disease is coronary angiography, also known as cardiac catheterization, which is described below. Although cardiac cath is the gold standard, it is an invasive test and not appropriate for all patients. For this reason, noninvasive stress testing has been developed for the diagnosis of coronary disease.
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What are the risk factors for coronary artery disease?

Elevated cholesterol, smoking, diabetes, hypertension, male gender, and family history of coronary disease are all associated with a higher risk for developing coronary artery disease and myocardial infarction. These risk factors were identified by following a large population of "healthy" people over 20 - 30 years and coming up with a profile of those who ultimately went on to develop coronary artery disease. ...
Source: www.mimg.com
Conditions that increase a person's risk for heart disease, also called Coronary artery disease, are called risk factors. There are some risk factors that you can't do anything about. These include: Male sex. Older age. Family history of heart attack or coronary artery disease. Being post-menopausal. Other risk factors, fortunately, can be changed (modifiable risk factors). These include: Smoking. High cholesterol. Hypertension (high blood pressure). Lack of exercise. ...

What are symptoms of coronary artery disease?

The typical symptoms are chest pain or pressure ("angina"), sometimes with radiation to the arm or jaw, and shortness of breath. This may be accompanied by nausea, sweating, or dizziness. These symptoms typically are brought on with exertional or emotional stress. However, even when the coronary arteries become severely narrowed by cholesterol plaque, symptoms may be absent or subtle, especially in someone who leads a sedentary lifestyle. ...
Source: www.mimg.com

Is atherosclerosis the same as Coronary Artery Disease?

When we talk about either atherosclerosis or Coronary Artery Disease, we're speaking of the same disease process - the accumulation of plaque within the coronary arteries. Many cardiologists however make the distinction that Coronary Artery Disease occurs when atherosclerosis has advanced so far that it has affected coronary blood flow and/or the function of your heart.

What is Premature Coronary Artery disease?

CAD occurring before age 65 in women and age 55 in men. CAD occurring before age 40, is usually very severe and causes massive heart attack and/or premature death(Malignant CAD).

What causes coronary artery disease?

Coronary artery disease is the result of fat and other substances building up within the walls of your blood vessels, combining to form a material called plaque. This build up of plaque causes the artery to narrow, sometimes forming clots that prevent blood flow altogether.
Coronary artery disease is caused by atherosclerosis, the buildup of a hard, waxy substance called plaque inside your arteries. Over time, this buildup can cause narrowing inside your arteries, limiting the flow of oxygen-rich blood to your heart. In some cases, pieces of plaque may break off and completely block an artery or cause an artery to clot off.

What is medical treatment of coronary artery disease?

When there is a reduction in blood flow to heart muscle due to narrowed coronary arteries, it is like a reduction in income to a business. When that happens the business has two options: one is to find another source of income, and the second is to reduce expenses to free up more money. In the case of the heart, there are drugs that can increase the blood flow to the heart muscle, and there are other drugs to reduce the expenses or work load of the heart. ...

How accurate is 3D CCG in detecting Coronary Artery Disease?

Studies show that CCG has a higher sensitivity and specificity when compared to other non invasive test like Electron Beam CT, PET scan, Stress Thallium, Stress ECHO and TMT. The sensitivity of CCG is 91% and the specificity is 92% in correlation with angiography, while the TMT has a mean sensitivity of 65% and a specificity of 77%.

How common is cardiovascular and coronary artery disease in the United States?

Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death in this country, almost double that of the combined death rate from all cancers. Over one million people in the U.S. will have a heart attack this year. Sudden death is the first sign of any cardiovascular disease in 150,000 people each year.

How does the scan detect coronary artery disease?

The coronary artery scan detects the presence of calcium deposits in the wall of the arteries. These are often present long before blockages have become severe enough to be found by other means such as stress tests. Coronary artery calcium deposits are a "clinical marker" for coronary artery disease. The more calcium present the higher the risk that you may have a heart attack.

Are there other types of heart disease besides Coronary Artery Disease?

Yes, but Coronary Artery Disease is the leading cause of death in America today, and it is responsible for the very large majority of all heart attacks.

What is Coronary Artery Disease(CAD)/Atherosclerotic Heart Disease (ASHD)?

These terms are frequently used interchangeably and both refer to the disease process caused by atherosclerosis . Atherosclerosis is a progressive, systemic (involves multiple body systems) process, during which, plaques (often referred to as "blockages") develop within the interior of a blood vessel and can eventually impair the flow of blood through the affected vessel. The organ that is supplied with blood by the affected vessel is often where signs and symptoms occur. ...

What are the risks associated with coronary artery disease?

Risk factors that you can do something about include: • Family history • High blood cholesterol • High blood pressure (hypertension) • Diabetes • Smoking The following may also contribute to the risk of heart disease: • High-fat diet • Overweight • Sedentary lifestyle (lack of exercise) • High stress If you have several of these risk factors, follow your doctor’s treatment orders. If you have any signs of heart disease such as chest pain, see your physician right away. ...
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