Coronary Artery Disease

1Angina Pectoris. (n.d.). Retrieved September 20, 2015.

As I have stated in an earlier blog, heart disease is the number one killer in the United States.1 It is also the most preventable disease as well.1 What you eat, how you handle stress and how much you exercise are a few different ways to maintain health and prevent heart disease.1 Coronary artery disease occurs when major arteries become damaged or diseased caused by plaque.2

When plaque builds up in the arteries, it becomes difficult for blood and oxygen to flow through the arteries smoothly. This often causes angina. Angina is defined as “recurring chest pain or discomfort when the heart doesn’t receive enough blood or oxygen.”1  Angina is a common symptom of CAD when the arteries become narrowed or blocked due to atherosclerosis or a blood clot.1  Symptoms include:

·      A pressing, squeezing or crushing chest pain.1

·      Pain radiating from arms, shoulders, neck, jaw and/or back.1

·      Shortness of breath.1

·      Weakness or fatigue.1

Angina chest pain is quickly relieved within of a few minutes of rest or by taking prescribed medication such as nitroglycerin.1 Angina is often brought on by different triggers such as:

·      Physical Exertion.1

·      Emotional Stress.1

·      Extreme Cold or Heat.1

·      Heavy meals.1

·      Cigarette Smoke.1

·      Excessive Alcohol Consumption.1

Angina doesn’t always mean a heart attack. It does however mean that coronary artery disease is present and that you are more susceptible to having a heart attack.1 Heart attacks occur when a major artery becomes blocked due to plaque build up.2 When the artery becomes 100% blocked, the muscle cells in the heart begin to suffer damage and die.1 After approximately 30 minutes, irreversible damage begins to occur resulting in dysfunction of the heart in the affected area.1 Risk factors of CAD include:

·      Age.2

·      Sex – Men are generally at a greater risk for CAD.2

·      Family History – A family history of CAD is associated with a higher risk of CAD especially if a

    close member developed heart disease at an early age. 2

·      Smoking.2

·      High Blood Pressure2

·      High Cholesterol Levels.2

·      Obesity. 2

As I stated before, heart disease is the number one killer in the United States but it is also the most preventable as well. Know the signs and symptoms of CAD so you can help prevent and manage this disease.

1Angina Pectoris. (n.d.). Retrieved September 20, 2015.

2Coronary artery disease. (n.d.). Retrieved September 20, 2015.