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Signs & Symptoms of Cornary Artery Disease

Coronary artery disease is caused by plaque, which blocks arteries that transmit blood to the heart. The disease can go undiagnosed for years and eventually cause people to have a heart attack, according to the Mayo Clinic.

  1. Disease Significance

    • The U.S. National Library of Medicine and National Institutes of Health state that coronary artery disease causes more deaths among males and females than any other disease.

    Causes

    • Coronary artery disease is caused by smoking, high blood cholesterol levels, high blood pressure and/or diabetes. People who are overweight and/or do not exercise regularly are at an increased risk for getting the disease.

    Symptoms

    • Symptoms of coronary artery disease include pain in the chest, abdomen, back or arm; sweating; fatigue during activities; and/or shortness of breath.

    Identification

    • An electrocardiogram (EKG) is a test that looks at the electric impulses that travel toward the heart. It can show if the heart or its functions are irregular, according to the American Heart Association. An echocardiogram, which uses sound waves to get pictures of the heart, can show if someone has blocked arteries, according to MedicineNet.

    Treatment

    • Doctors may prescribe medications that lower cholesterol levels, such as statins or bile acid sequestrants; beta blockers, which lower heart rate and blood pressure; or calcium channel blockers, which help increase the amount of blood flowing to the heart.
      Sometimes physicians need to perform coronary artery bypass surgery, where they get blood to flow around a blocked artery through an unblocked blood vessel.
      During an angioplasty, another treatment option, a catheter and wire with a balloon are used to clear blocked arteries.

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