Coronary Artery Disease Monitoring & Treatment

Commonly called "hardening of the arteries," coronary artery disease develops over time and is the chief cause of heart attack and stroke worldwide. Monitoring and treatment of this disease becomes paramount in battling a killer that typically becomes problematic in mid-life.

Identification

• Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a blockage of arteries leading to the heart. It is typically caused by a buildup of fatty substances called plaque, resulting in a condition referred to as atherosclerosis.

Treatment

• Age, heart function and other health issues play a role in determining treatment. "At first, treatment may include diet changes and an exercise program. Your health care provider may prescribe medicine," according to the University of Michigan Health System. Surgery to open blockages may be necessary.

Monitoring

• Electrocardiograms, echocardiograms, stress tests, blood scans, angiograms, coronary catheterization, and CT scans or MRI's may be ordered to diagnose and monitor improvements or regression in coronary blockage.

Prevention/Solution

• Healthier lifestyle recommendations include stopping smoking, losing weight, increasing exercise and eating healthier in order to lower blood pressure and reduce cholesterol.

Surgery

• Angioplasty, stenting and heart bypass are the primary surgical techniques utilized to repair coronary artery disease. "All variations of coronary artery bypass surgery involve bypassing the blockage in the coronary arteries with a blood vessel taken from another part of the patient's body," say physicians with Surgical Associates of Texas.