Coronary Artery Disease (CAD): Symptoms and Treatment
Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the most common form of heart disease and the leading cause of death in the United States. Although it is sometimes called coronary heart disease, CAD specifically affects the heart’s arteries (a type of blood vessel). It prevents them from delivering oxygen-rich blood to the heart.
The good news is that the condition can be managed, sometimes through simple lifestyle changes. The expert cardiologists at Beaufort Memorial can help you take control of CAD.
Learn your risk for heart disease with a coronary artery calcium screening. Then, discuss your results with a board-certified heart specialist. Call 843-770-4550 to schedule an appointment.
Coronary Artery Disease
CAD occurs when the arteries that supply oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle get blocked. When plaque (a fatty material) builds up on artery walls — a condition known as atherosclerosis — the walls narrow, making it harder for blood to flow to your heart. This can lead to a condition called ischemia, or a restriction of blood flow and oxygen in the heart.
Plaque can build up silently, without causing symptoms. As a result, for many people, the first sign of CAD is a heart attack, and angina (chest pain and discomfort) is the condition’s most common symptom.
CAD can also cause the heart muscle to weaken, leading to heart failure and arrhythmias.
Download our free guide, The Heart of the Matter: Understanding Cardiovascular Disease.
Coronary Artery Disease Risk Factors
The risk of developing CAD increases with age. It occurs most commonly in men over age 45 and women who have been through menopause. Family history also plays a role, as do health conditions and lifestyle factors, such as:
- Being overweight or obese
- Diabetes
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Lack of physical activity
- Smoking
- Unhealthy diet
If you have these risk factors and ever experience shortness of breath, chest pain and other symptoms of a heart attack, call 911 immediately.
Learn more in our free guide, Protect Your Heart: Take Steps to Lower Your Risk.
Coronary Artery Disease Treatment
Determining the right treatment plan for CAD is different for each patient. Our cardiologists look at your specific condition, personal history, risk factors and more to develop a plan for you that may include one or more of the following:
Lifestyle Changes
You can do a lot to control CAD without medical interventions. Your cardiologist may suggest that you make some changes to your lifestyle to successfully manage the progression of disease, such as:
- Changing to a low-fat diet
- Controlling blood sugar if you have diabetes
- Establishing and maintaining an exercise program
- Managing your weight
- Quitting smoking
- Reducing blood pressure
Medication
When lifestyle changes alone aren’t enough to manage CAD, our doctors will work to find the right medication or combination of medications. These can help lower blood pressure and cholesterol, reduce the heart’s workload and prevent blood clots from forming and potentially causing a heart attack.
Procedures
For some patients, minimally invasive coronary artery surgery is an alternative to traditional open-heart surgery. Common procedures we perform include:
- Coronary balloon angioplasty: Also referred to as percutaneous (through the skin) coronary intervention (PCI), this technique uses a tiny balloon to widen the inside channel of the artery and enable blood to flow at a normal or near-normal rate.
- Stenting: This procedure involves a device called a stent to restore blood flow in the coronary artery. As with angioplasty, a stent mounted onto a tiny balloon is opened inside an artery to push back plaque and restore blood flow.
If you require surgery, you have access to our comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation program, which helps you learn how to manage CAD.