Coronary Artery Disease

What is coronary artery disease?

Coronary artery disease is the most common type of heart disease. It develops when the major artery that supplies your heart with oxygenated, nutrient-rich blood becomes damaged or blocked.

Lifestyle factors such as a high-fat diet and smoking contribute to plaque building up in your arteries, which causes them to narrow. The narrowing of your arteries can increase your blood pressure and reduce the efficiency of your circulation, including the blood flow to your heart, which can cause a range of disruptive symptoms.

What are the signs of coronary artery disease?

Chest pain is one of the primary signs of coronary artery disease. You may also experience shortness of breath. However, many patients don’t experience noticeable warning signs and may not know they have coronary artery disease until they have a heart attack.

Having routine blood pressure screenings and cardiac assessments is the best way to catch coronary artery disease and other cardiovascular problems in their early stages.

If you think you’re having a heart attack, you should go to the emergency room immediately.

What methods diagnose coronary artery disease?

The team of expert cardiologists at LaSante Health Center diagnoses coronary artery disease with a comprehensive physical exam and a wide range of diagnostic tests.

For example, your cardiologist may order electrocardiograms, echocardiograms, or stress tests to monitor and measure your heart function as well as the flow of blood in and out of your heart. They may also suggest a cardiac angiogram or a CT cardiac angiogram.

What is the treatment for coronary artery disease?

Your LaSante Health Center doctor provides a customized treatment plan to restore your cardiovascular and overall health. After your consultation, your doctor works with you to implement lifestyle modifications and introduce medication to restore your cardiovascular health.

They may also recommend a surgical procedure to open and clear your blood vessels to improve your blood flow, such as stenting or procedures to remove plaque from your arteries. In severe cases, your doctor may suggest coronary bypass surgery.

If you’ve experienced symptoms of coronary artery disease or are concerned about your cardiovascular health, call LaSante Health Center or schedule a consultation online today.