Vascular disease refers to damage to the blood vessels. Coronary vascular disease involves the coronary arteries, which deliver blood pumped from inside the heart back to the heart. Blockages in the coronary arteries result in less blood and oxygen reaching the heart. Coronary artery disease, or CAD, the most common cause of death in developed countries, causes around one third of deaths in both men and women, the Merck Manual states.
Definition
Coronary artery disease refers to blockage of the coronary arteries with plaque, fatty deposits that build up on the inside of the arteries, narrowing the space and reducing blood flow through the arteries, Mayo Clinic explains. Plaque build-up is also known as atherosclerosis and “hardening of the arteries."
Causes
Many factors contribute to plaque build-up in the coronary arteries. Family history of heart disease, high cholesterol and triglyceride levels, smoking, obesity, diabetes and inactivity can all play a part in plaque development. High stress levels, a diet high in fat and low in vitamin C and E and fiber may also increase the risk.
Symptoms
Symptoms of coronary vascular disease depend on the degree and location of the blockage. Chest pain, also known as angina, occurs when the heart doesn’t receive enough oxygen through then arrowed or blocked blood vessels. Pain may feel like someone squeezing the heart or chest and may radiate down the arm, into the neck, upper back or abdomen, MedlinePlus explains. Shortness of breath and fatigue with exertion also can signify coronary vascular disease. A rapid heartbeat and nausea, sweating, dizziness and extreme weakness may also occur, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis of coronary vascular disease requires special testing. Electrocardiogram, a simple, non-invasive test of the electrical activity of the heart, may be followed by echocardiogram, which views the pumping action of the heart or stress testing, which shows the heart’s response to increased oxygen demands. Cardiac catheterization injects dye into blood vessels so that any blockages can be visualized, according to Mayo Clinic.
Treatment
Opening the blocked arteries by dilating the vessels and placing stents inside the vessel to keep it open, called percutaneous coronary intervention, or PCI, helps maintain adequate blood flow. Most stents in the United States secrete medications for several weeks to help prevent the artery from narrowing. Drugs such as aspirin may also be given to reduce clot formation in the artery.
Coronary artery bypass grafting, called CABG, removes blood vessels from other parts of the body and grafts them onto the heart so blood bypasses the blocked arteries. The risk of death during either procedure is between 1 and 3 percent, according to Merck.
