Coronary artery disease (CAD)
About Coronary artery disease (CAD)
The blood vessels that supply the heart are called the coronary arteries. Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the narrowing of these arteries by fat and calcium build up called plaques. This is also called coronary atherosclerosis. The following characteristics lead to an increased chance of having CAD: smoking, obesity, family history of CAD, high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, diabetes, sedentary lifestyle, and kidney disease. Sometimes a blood clot can develop in these plaques and suddenly block the blood supply to the heart causing a heart attack. Symptoms of coronary artery disease can vary widely and in some patients like the elderly, diabetics and women there is no chest pain.Symptoms
Chest pain (typically described as squeezing, crushing, or band like), some people may have little or no chest pain (elderly, diabetics, or women). Chest pain that comes on with exercise and goes away with rest. Other symptoms include: jaw pain, arm pain, back pain, abdominal pain, shortness of breath, sweating, nausea, vomiting, apprehension, fainting, dizziness.Tests & Diagnostics
A history and physical exam will be performed. A coronary angiogram can definitively identify the coronary artery blockage. A high resolution chest CT scan can also demonstrate the blockages. CT scans can also rule out other diseases that can clinically mimic a heart attack. An echocardiogram can demonstrate a poorly functioning heart. An EKG (electrocardiogram) can sometimes show abnormalities with CAD.Common tests: Complete blood count (CBC), Comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP), CT Scan, D-Dimer, EKG, Troponin, X-ray.
OTC sleep aids and supportive treatments
Prescription medications
Conventional treatment summary
Treatment of CAD is aimed at reducing the plaque buildup in the arteries. The best therapy includes controlling blood pressure and cholesterol, exercising, not smoking, and keeping diabetes under control. Medications used to treat CAD are aspirin, high blood pressure pills, nitroglycerin, and statins to lower cholesterol. Treatment for a heart attack is aimed at improving the blood flow to the heart, treating life threatening arrhythmias, and maximizing the heart function. During a heart attack, clot busting medication (alteplase/t-PA) often are used to break apart the blood clot that has stopped blood flow to one part of the heart. In people with angina (and sometimes in people having heart attacks), coronary (heart) artery blockages are reduced by the following: balloon angioplasty, stent placement, surgical bypass, blood thinners and anti-platelet medications (aspirin, abciximab/ReoPro, eptifibatide/Integrilin, clopidogrel/Plavix). When arrhythmias are present they are treated with medications (amiodarone, lidocaine), cardioversion or a pacemaker. For additional information contact the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute Health Information Center at: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov or call (301)592-8573 American Heart Association: (800)242-8721Medical specialties
Cardiology · Interventional Cardiology · Cardiovascular Surgery
This page is educational content, not medical advice. Always consult a qualified clinician for diagnosis and treatment of Coronary artery disease (CAD).