Coronary Artery Disease Specialist

What is coronary artery disease?

Coronary artery disease is a serious cardiovascular problem that occurs when the major blood vessels that supply your heart with nutrients and oxygen become damaged or diseased. Usually, coronary artery disease occurs because of a buildup of plaque and inflammation.

When plaque develops in your arteries, it prevents blood flow from reaching your heart. As the blockage gets worse, you might experience chest pain, shortness of breath, or leg cramps. 

Fortunately, you can lower your risk of coronary artery disease by eating a healthy, balanced diet and exercising regularly.  

What are the symptoms of coronary artery disease?

Coronary artery disease develops slowly over a lengthy period of time. As a result, you may not notice anything is wrong in the early stages. As the condition progresses, and plaque builds up in your arteries, you might experience trouble breathing or sharp, shooting pains in your neck, arm, or back. 

When left untreated, coronary artery disease significantly increases your risk of a heart attack. A heart attack occurs when one or more of your coronary arteries loses all blood flow. Classic signs of a heart attack include crushing chest pain, breathlessness, and sweating. If you or a loved one experiences these or similar symptoms, call 911 or visit your nearest emergency room right away.

What causes coronary artery disease?

Coronary artery disease usually develops due to an injury in the inner layer of one or more of your coronary arteries. Several factors can cause this damage, including:

• Smoking
• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Diabetes
• Living a sedentary lifestyle

Following an injury, fatty deposits made of cholesterol and other cellular products collect near the site, a process called atherosclerosis. Over time, this buildup can block an artery and cause a heart attack.

What is the process for diagnosing coronary artery disease?

To diagnose coronary artery disease, your Premier Cardiovascular Consultants provider conducts a physical exam, asks you questions about your symptoms, and reviews your medical history. They also order a series of blood tests.

If these measures don’t provide enough information, your provider might also recommend an electrocardiogram, echocardiogram, stress test, or heart scan.

What is the process for treating coronary artery disease?

Treatment for coronary artery disease depends on the severity of your symptoms. However, the team at Premier Cardiovascular Consultants usually recommends a combination of healthy lifestyle changes and prescription medications. 

For example, quitting smoking, exercising regularly, losing weight, and reducing stress can promote healthy arteries and lower your risk of a heart attack. Cholesterol-modifying medications and beta-blockers can decrease the amount of bad cholesterol in your blood and lower your blood pressure.

To learn more about the treatment options for coronary artery disease, schedule an appointment at Premier Cardiovascular Consultants by calling the office nearest you, or book online today.