Coronary arteries are the two arteries found directly on the heart. They are called the right coronary artery and the left main coronary artery and provide the heart with its own blood supply. Coronary artery disease is a common problem where plaque builds up within the arteries causing narrowing and eventually blockage. Plaque is made up of cholesterol, fat, calcium and other blood products and is known as atherosclerosis according to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. If blockage occurs, then blood flow stops which causes a heart attack.
Causes
According to the American Heart Association, coronary artery disease is caused by several predisposing factors. High blood pressure, smoking, diabetes and high amounts of fat and cholesterol have damaging effects on the arteries. The body's response to heal the damage results in thickening of arteries and eventually blockage. Thickening of arteries is a process that starts at a young age and progresses over time. Other factors that increase one's risk for disease are lack of physical activity, family history, overweight or obesity, and age.
Symptoms
Angina or chest pain is a common symptom of blockage due to less oxygen reaching the heart according to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. Shortness of breath is also common and is caused by fluid buildup in the lungs when the heart pumps inefficiently. Heart attack is very common when a clot forms stopping the flow of blood. This can cause heart muscle to die with no oxygen. Arrhythmia is also a common symptom where the heart skips beats and is off rhythm. The danger here is that the heart may stop beating completely, leading to cardiac arrest.
Diagnosis
According to the Mayo Clinic, doctors diagnose the condition by physical exam and lab tests, family history and risk factors. Other procedures used are EKG, or electrocardiogram, which tests the activity of the heart and how strong it is. Stress testing is also used where a patient is asked to exercise to speed up the heart in order to detect abnormalities of the heart. Echocardiography uses sound waves to show different parts of the heart and helps locate problem areas. Chest X-rays help show the health of different organs while blood tests are used to test sugar, cholesterol, and fat content in blood. Coronary angiography is used by injecting dye into the arteries to check for blockage. This test is done when others are inconclusive.
Treatment
Treatment involves lifestyle changes that include healthy diet, increased physical activity, stress reduction, quitting smoking and maintaining a healthy weight. Drugs may also be used to lower cholesterol and blood pressure, prevent clots, and some may work directly on the heart to prevent stoppage or abnormal rhythms. Angioplasty is used to open up a clogged artery if other methods fail. A stent or tube is placed inside the opened artery to prevent it from closing up again. A last resort is an artery bypass. Arteries from other parts of the body are removed and used to redirect blood flow from the blocked coronary artery, according to the Mayo Clinic. This usually opens up the flow of blood and is used when the condition becomes life threatening.
Prevention
The best prevention is to understand the risk factors that cause artery blockage and make lifestyle changes before the damage progresses further. Also, knowledge of family medical history will help one avoid high risk factors that are already present.
