Coronary disease




What Is Coronary Artery Disease?

Coronary artery disease (CAD) occurs when the arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle (the coronary arteries) become hardened and narrowed. The arteries harden and narrow due to buildup of a material called plaque (plak) on their inner walls. The buildup of plaque is known as atherosclerosis (ATH-er-o-skler-O-sis). As the plaque increases in size, the insides of the coronary arteries get narrower and less blood can flow through them. Eventually, blood flow to the heart muscle is reduced, and, because blood carries much-needed oxygen, the heart muscle is not able to receive the amount of oxygen it needs. Reduced or cutoff blood flow and oxygen supply to the heart muscle can result in:
  • Angina (AN-ji-na or an-JI-na). Angina is chest pain or discomfort that occurs when the heart does not get enough blood.
  • Heart attack. A heart attack happens when a blood clot develops at the site of plaque in a coronary artery and suddenly cuts off most or all blood supply to that part of the heart muscle. Cells in the heart muscle begin to die if they do not receive enough oxygen-rich blood. This can cause permanent damage to the heart muscle.
Over time, CAD can weaken the heart muscle and contribute to:
  • Heart failure,In Heart failure, the heart can’t pump blood effectively to the rest of the body. Heart failure does not mean that the heart has stopped or is about to stop. Instead, it means that the heart is failing to pump blood the way that it should.
  • Arrhythmias (a-RITH-me-as). Arrhythmias are changes in the normal beating rhythm of the heart. Some can be quite serious.

    CAD is the most common type of heart disease. It is the leading cause of death in the United States in both men and women.
Other Names for Coronary artery disease
  • CAD
  • Coronary heart disease (CHD)
  • Heart disease
  • Ischemic (is-KE-mik) heart disease
What Causes Coronary Artery Disease?

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is caused by atherosclerosis (the thickening and hardening of the inside walls of arteries). Some hardening of the arteries occurs normally as a person grows older. In atherosclerosis, plaque deposits build up in the arteries. Plaque is made up of fat, cholesterol, calcium, and other substances from the blood. Plaque buildup in the arteries often begins in childhood. Over time, plaque buildup in the coronary arteries can:
  • Narrow the arteries. This reduces the amount of blood and oxygen that reaches the heart muscle.
  • Completely block the arteries. This stops the flow of blood to the heart muscle.
  • Cause blood clots to form. This can block the arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle.
Plaque in the arteriescan be:
  • Hard and stable. Hard plaque causes the artery walls to thicken and harden. This condition is associated more with angina than with a heart attack, but heart attacks frequently occur with hard plaque.

  • Soft and unstable. Soft plaque is more likely to break open or to break off from the artery walls and cause blood clots. This can lead to a heart attack.
What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Coronary artery disease ?

The most common symptoms of coronary artery disease (CAD) are:

  • Chest pain or chest discomfort (angina) or pain in one or both arms or in the left shoulder, neck, jaw, or back
  • Shortness of breath

    • The severity of symptoms varies widely. Symptoms may become more severe as coronary arteries become narrower due to the buildup of plaque (atherosclerosis).

    In some people, the first sign of CAD is a heart attack. A heart attack happens when plaque in a coronary artery breaks apart, causing a blood clot to form and block the artery.

    How Can Coronary Artery Disease Be Prevented or Delayed?

    Preventing or delaying coronary artery disease(CAD) begins with knowing which risk factors you have and taking action. Remember, your chances of developing CAD increase with the number of risk factors you have.

    Know your family history of health problems related to CAD. If you or someone in your family has CAD, be sure to tell your doctor. Make sure everyone in your family gets enough exercise and maintains a healthy body weight.

    By controlling your risk factors with lifestyle changes and medicines, you may prevent or delay the development of CAD.

    CAD can cause serious complications, but by following your doctor's advice and changing your habits, you can prevent or reduce the chance of:
    • Dying suddenly from cardiac problems
    • Having a heart attack and permanently damaging your heart muscle
    • Damaging your heart because of reduced oxygen supply
    • Having irregular heartbeats (arrhythmias)
    If you have any other health conditions, it is important that you follow your doctor's directions to treat those conditions. By staying as healthy as possible, you can lower your risk of developing CAD and its complications.
    Informations obtained from National Institute of Health.
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