About CAD
Blockages can occur within the body’s vessels, and may lead to heart attack if untreated. Coronary Artery Disease is a leading cause of death throughout the world, but can be addressed with the right diagnosis and intervention
Definition
Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) a heart diseased caused by inadequate blood flow to the heart muscle, caused by blockages in the body’s arteries
Cause
CAD is caused by the buildup of fatty deposits on the inside of the body’s arteries. These deposits, called “Atherosclerotic Plaque" or simply "Plaque," consist of cholesterol, calcium, and other substances in the blood. These plaque deposits clog the artery, causing it to become stiff and restrict blood flow. Hardening of the arteries can occur in various locations throughout the body, and can range in severity. Due to the narrowing of these coronary arteries, the flow of blood and oxygen is restricted to the heart muscle.
Risk Factors
some hardening of the arteries occurs naturally as a person ages. However, certain risk factors can further contribute to hardening:
- Age (over age 45 for men, and over age 55 for women)
- Family history of heart disease
- Smoking
- High blood pressure
- High levels of LDL cholesterol and low HDL cholesterol
- Certain diseases, such as diabetes
- Being overweight or obese
- Lack of exercise
- Certain types of radiation therapy to the chest
- Stress
- In general, men are at a higher risk of CAD; a woman's risk increases after menopause.
Coronary Artery Disease may take several years to develop into a life-threatening condition, and symptoms may not be experienced until blockages have become severe. Keeping a close watch for early symptoms may help to achieve early prevention. Symptoms may differ among individuals, but typically include:
- Chest pain (Angina)
- Shortness of breath
- Extreme fatigue with exertion
- Swelling in your feet
- Pain in your shoulder or arm
- Women may experience different forms of chest pain. It may be noticed in the stomach, back, or arm.
- Women are more likely to experience alternative symptoms of a heart attack, including nausea and back or jaw pain.
- *Consult your physician if you think you have symptoms CAD; if you think you might be experiencing a heart attack, seek immediate medical attention.
Diagnosis
If your doctor suspects you have coronary artery disease, he or she can refer you to a cardiologist. In understanding your condition to develop a diagnosis, your healthcare provider will ask about your symptoms, medical history, and assess your environmental risk factors. In addition, your doctor may administer diagnostic tests. These may include:
- Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG)
- Echocardiogram (ECHO)
- Stress test
- Nuclear heart scan/nuclear stress test
- Electron beam computerized tomography (EBCT)
- Magnetic resonance angiography (MRA)
- Angiography
- Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS)
- X-ray
- Blood tests
- CT Angiography
Treatment Options for CAD
There are many ways to address & treat heart disease, such as medication, changing your diet and exercise, and addressing other environmental risk factors. However, if further treatment is need to address the condition, your cardiologist may recommend a stent implant or bypass surgery. If so, VASMED's innovative products are available to aid in your pursuit of wellbeing. As there are a variety of procedures and tools that can address your condition, your doctor will determine the best treatment plan, which may include the following:
Pharmaceutical Therapy
When hardening of the arteries is identified at an early stage, medications such as nitrates, beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, aspirin, or cholesterol-lowering drugs (statins) may be prescribed. These are used to slow the development of CAD and prevent heart attack.
Bypass Surgery
Coronary Artery Bypass grafting ("CABG") is a common procedure where a section of a healthy blood vessel is taken from the your leg, chest, or arm, and is then connected to the coronary artery slightly past the site of the blockage. This creates a new path for blood to flow around (bypass) the blockage. Patients undergoing bypass surgery are placed under general anesthetic. Two bypass surgical procedures for coronary artery disease are:
- Beating Heart surgery
- Arrested Heart surgery
Minimally Invasive Treatments
an alternative to the CABG surgery for some patients. Three minimally invasive treatments for CAD are:
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Coronary Balloon Angioplasty
Also referred to as percutaneous (through the skin) coronary intervention (PCI), uses a tiny balloon to widen the inside of the artery, restoring normal blood flow to the heart
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Stenting
Uses an implantable device called a stent (a tiny, expandable, mesh-like tube made of a metal such as steel or cobalt alloy) to restore blood flow in the coronary artery. Similar to an angioplasty procedure, a stent mounted onto a tiny balloon is opened inside of an artery to reform plaque and to restore normal blood flow.
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Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery (MICS) CABG
The beating heart procedure can be performed through a small rib incision rather than through a median sternotomy. In some cases, stents and balloons can be used together in a procedure called "Stent and Balloon Therapy."