Coronary arteries carry oxygen and nutrients to the heart, fueling the heart muscle. If disease or constriction of those arteries stops a healthy flow of blood, it can cause permanent damage to the heart muscle or a heart attack. The American Heart Association website states that physicians diagnose 670,000 new cases of heart failure yearly with 6 million people living with heart failure in the United States. The stages of coronary artery disease (CAD) have some common elements.
Risk Factors
One beginning indicator for CAD is the presence of risk factors. The Heartsite website states about one-third of adult Americans have some form of the disease. It lists several risk factors that point to the possibility you have CAD. High blood pressure (hypertension), cigarette smoking and having diabetes are all indicators you may have CAD. A strong family history of CAD, high cholesterol and being a male more than 50 years of age with high stress and little exercise all indicate the likelihood of the disease.
Symptoms
You may not realize you have CAD. The American Heart Association website lists several symptoms to help recognize if you suffer from the problem. You may feel shortness of breath, a chest pain in the center of your chest lasting more than a few minutes or pain in your upper body. You may also have shortness of breath without chest pain that could still signal a heart attack. Other possible symptoms include a cold sweat, nausea and lightheadedness.
CAD Progression
Atherosclerosis, the most common form of CAD, starts when fat is deposited in your arteries which restricts blood flow. The Heartsite website states a fatty plaque may dislodge to block the artery with a clot, which can then trigger a heart attack. If the plaque forms a crack or partial blockage, only angina (chest pain) may result. You won't know if you have CAD or something else unless you see a doctor.
Diagnosis
A physician can tell if your symptoms indicate a heart attack from coronary artery disease. The American Heart Association website states a doctor will perform a physical, run an electrocardiogram (EKG) test and do blood tests to tell if you have had a heart attack. The blood test may reveal certain enzymes called heart damage markers which help identify if you suffer from coronary artery disease and have had a heart attack.
Treatment
Your doctor may treat your CAD with medication or even surgery, depending on the seriousness of the CAD/ Mayo Clinic staff say you may need to take a statin or other drug to lower your low-density lipoprotein (LDL) or "bad" cholesterol. He may prescribe a beta blocker to help lower your blood pressure or have you take aspirin to thin your blood. More invasive procedures include angioplasty and stent placement, wherein your doctor inserts a catheter to help hold your artery open or coronary bypass to go around the blockage.
After Treatment
The main aspects of after treatment for CAD are lifestyle changes. Mayo Clinic staff say that medications and surgery cannot be the only remedy. You will have to plan a healthy diet, increase your exercise and decrease your calorie intake to stay healthy. You will need to continue careful monitoring, regular medical checkups and healthy lifestyle changes like reducing red meat intake and increasing fresh vegetables in your diet.
