Coronary Artery Disease

The heart is a muscular organ that pumps blood to the body at an average of 72 times per minute. Oxygen and nutrients serve as a fuel supply to the pump and are carried to heart in the form of blood that flows through the coronary arteries. Thus, the coronary arteries serve as fuel pipe lines to the heart muscle.

Coronary Heart Disease (CHD), Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) is the most common form of heart disease.

The coronary arteries (Strong, elastic blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart to the rest of the body) are blood vessels that carry blood and oxygen to the heart muscle. They are located along the surface of the heart. When these arteries become clogged with fatty deposits called plaque (buildup of fatty deposits such as lipids, cholesterol, calcium and other materials on the inner walls of blood vessels). The buildup of plaque contributes to atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease, and stroke), it is called coronary artery disease (CAD). Plaque forms in the arteries over many years in a process called atherosclerosis. Clogged arteries can keep the heart from getting enough blood and oxygen and can cause chest pain (angina). If a blood clot forms, it can suddenly cut off blood flow in the artery and cause a heart attack.

Coronary artery disease may also be referred to as coronary heart disease (CHD), ischemic heart disease, or atherosclerotic heart disease.

Atherosclerosis is the main cause not only of coronary artery disease but of the whole group of diseases called cardiovascular diseases—diseases of the heart and blood vessels. Clogged arteries in the legs or arms lead to peripheral artery disease (PAD), and clogged arteries in the brain can result in stroke.

 Causes

The cause of CAD is a narrowing of the coronary arteries that supply oxygen and nutrients to the heart muscle. Most of the time, narrowing of coronary arteries is the result of atherosclerosis, which is the thickening and hardening of the inside walls of arteries. Some hardening of the arteries occurs normally as you grow older.

Symptom

·        tightness or a squeezing sensation across the chest

·        burning or pressure beneath the breast bone

·        pain or ache radiating to the shoulders, jaw, arms, throat, neck, or upper abdomen

·        fatigue

·        nausea or vomiting

·        sweating

·        weakness

·        shortness of breath

·        lightheadedness

Men will often feel:

·        constant pain in the middle of the chest that may radiate to the neck, jaw, left shoulder, or arm

·        tightness or squeezing in the chest

·        a sensation of "heaviness" or heavy indigestion

·        sweating, nausea, and vomiting

·        shortness of breath

·        anxiety, fear, or denial

In women, the main symptoms can be similar to men but may also include:

·        shoulder, neck, or back pain

·        feeling a sharp pain on breathing in cold air

·        unusual fatigue or weakness

Risk Factors

here are many risk factors associated with coronary heart disease and stroke. The major risk factors, tobacco use, alcohol use, high blood pressure (hypertension), high cholesterol, obesity, physical inactivity, unhealthy diets, have a high prevalence across the world.

Modifiable risk factors:

Hypertension

Abnormal blood lipid levels

Tobacco

Physical inactivity

Type 2 diabetes

Saturated fat

Treatment

There are three approaches for treating Coronary Artery Disease:

1.     Medication

2.     Interventional Cardiology

3.     Cardiovascular Surgery