If you’re suffering from chest pain, it could hint toward a potential coronary artery disease.
Imagine two traffic lanes merging into one due to construction. The traffic gets unbearably slow. You don’t notice anything wrong until there’s an accident. That’s how CAD might feel like. You don’t feel like anything is wrong until a plaque similar to a concrete barrier in the middle of the road triggers a blood clot. The traffic comes to a standstill and the blood doesn’t reach your heart, causing a heart attack.
This is why coronary artery disease is known to be a silent killer. You may have it for years and not realize it until you experience a heart attack. Other names for CAD are coronary heart disease (CHD) and ischemic heart disease. This is also what most people mean when they say the generic term “heart disease.”
Types of CAD:
Coronary Artery Disease has two types. They include:
- Stable ischemic heart disease: This is a chronic form of CAD, caused by gradual narrowing of coronary arteries. Over time, your heart receives less oxygen-rich blood. The symptoms show but you learn to live with the condition.
- Acute coronary syndrome: This is a sudden medical emergency where the plaque inside your coronary artery ruptures forming a blood clot that blocks blood flow to your heart. This unanticipated blockage causes a heart attack.
How Common is CAD?
CAD is quite common for Indians and people, worldwide. While 30 million cases of CAD are active in India, there are also 250 million cases worldwide. It has also become the leading cause of death around the world.
Symptoms and Causes:
Most people don’t experience symptoms of coronary artery disease for the longest time as plaque build-up is gradual and not sudden. However, as your arteries narrow, you might experience mild symptoms. These symptoms indicate that your heart is pumping harder to deliver oxygen-rich blood to your body.
The two common symptoms are:
- Stable angina: This is chest pain or discomfort that goes and returns in a predictable pattern. This may be noticeable after a physical activity or emotional distress. The pain goes away when you rest or take nitroglycerin which is a medicine treating angina.
- Shortness of breath (dyspnea): Some people may experience shortness of breath during or after light physical activity.
Sometimes the first symptom of a CAD could even be a heart attack.
The cause of coronary artery disease is Atherosclerosis, which is the gradual buildup of plaque in arteries throughout your body. Plaque affects the blood flow in your coronary artery when you have CAD. Plaque is an amalgamation of cholesterol, waste products, calcium, and fibrin (a substance helping your blood clot). As plaque gradually collects along your artery walls, your arteries grow stiffer and stiffer.
The plaque has the power to clog or damage your arteries which limits or stops your blood flow to a certain part of the body. Once plaque builds up in the coronary artery, your heart muscles struggle to receive enough blood and, therefore, not enough oxygen. Once it doesn’t receive an adequate amount of oxygen and nutrients, it has difficulty functioning (myocardial ischemia). This leads to chest discomfort (angina) and makes you prone to a heart attack.
People with plaque buildup in their coronary arteries usually have buildup in other places in their body too. This may lead to carotid artery disease and peripheral artery disease (PAD).
What Are the Risk Factors For CAD?
There are several risk factors for coronary artery disease. While you can’t change all of them, you can manage some by making a few lifestyle changes or taking medications. You may discuss these changes with your healthcare provider.
- Being older than 45 if you’re assigned male at birth (AMAB) or over 55 if you’re assigned female at birth (AFAB).
- Having a biological family member with heart disease, especially a father or brother with a diagnosis before age 55 or a mother or sister before age 65.
- Eating a lot of saturated fat or refined carbohydrates.
- Not exercising enough.
- Not getting enough sleep.
- Smoking, vaping, or other tobacco use.
- Having atherosclerosis.
- High blood pressure.
- High LDL (“bad”) cholesterol.
- Low HDL (“good”) cholesterol.
- High triglycerides (hypertriglyceridemia).
- Anemia.
- Autoimmune diseases, including lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.
- Chronic kidney disease.
- Diabetes.
- HIV/AIDS.
- Metabolic syndrome.
- A body mass index (BMI) higher than 25.
- Sleep disorders like sleep apnea.
- Early menopause (before age 40).
- Endometriosis.
- History of gestational diabetes, eclampsia, or preeclampsia.
- Use of hormonal birth control.
What Are the Complications of CAD?
Over the years, your heart may weaken and lead to complications such as arrhythmia, cardiac arrest, cardiogenic shock, and heart failure.
What Is the Diagnosis of CAD?
Your healthcare provider may suggest a physical exam and testing. During the physical exam, your doctor may:
- Monitor your blood pressure.
- Listen to your heart with a stethoscope.
- Inquire about the symptoms you are currently facing and the duration for which you have been experiencing them.
- Inquire about your medical background.
- Inquire about your lifestyle.
- Ask you about your family history to know if there were any heart diseases among your biological parents and siblings.
He may also suggest tests such as:
- Blood tests.
- Cardiac catheterization.
- Computed tomography (CT) coronary angiogram.
- Heart MRI (magnetic resonance imaging).
- Coronary calcium scan.
- Echocardiogram (echo).
- Electrocardiogram (EKG/ECG).
- Exercise stress test.
- Chest X-ray.
How to Treat CAD?
Lifestyle changes, risk factor management, and medications often help reduce the risk of CAD. If severe, you may need a procedure or surgery. Talk to your healthcare provider today to personalize a treatment that could assist you in reducing your risk of serious complications and making you less prone to a heart attack.