Coronary Artery Disease Symptoms
Coronary artery disease is a type of heart disease. The coronary arteries are blood vessels that carry blood and oxygen to the heart muscle. When these arteries become clogged with fatty deposits called
arterial plaque, it is called coronary artery disease (CAD). CAD is sometimes called coronary heart disease (CHD). 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.
Plaque forms in the arteries over many years in a process called atherosclerosis. One cause of plaque in the arteries is too much cholesterol in the blood. As plaque builds up, the artery opening gradually narrows and becomes clogged. The artery can also become less elastic, called hardening of the arteries.
Symptoms of Coronary Artery Disease
You may not know that you have CAD until you begin to have symptoms from clogged arteries.
Chest pain, angina, and shortness of breath are often the first signs of
coronary artery disease. Some people don't know that they have CAD until they
have a heart attack.
- No symptoms, this is referred to as silent ischemia. Blood supply to your heart may be restricted due to coronary artery disease, but you don't feel any adverse effects.
- Chest pain, if your coronary arteries can't supply enough blood to meet the oxygen demands of your heart, the result may be chest pain called angina. It's often described as a pressure or tightness in the chest — as if someone were standing on your chest. Angina is usually brought on by physical or emotional stress. The pain typically goes away within minutes after stopping the stressful activity.
- Shortness of breath, some people may not be aware they have coronary artery disease until they develop symptoms of heart failure,
extreme fatigue with exertion, shortness of breath and swelling in their feet and ankles. Heart failure occurs when your heart becomes so weakened from insufficient blood supply or from a heart attack that it can't pump enough blood to meet your body's needs.
- A Heart attack, is the result of when an artery to your heart muscle becomes completely blocked and the part of your heart muscle fed by that artery dies. This is usually caused by a blood clot or other blockage in an already narrowed coronary artery. Pain from a heart attack is often described as crushing and may feel similar to angina, but it lasts longer.
You can prevent or slow coronary artery disease by taking steps to improve the health of your heart and blood vessels. Drugs and surgical techniques can repair narrowed coronary arteries, but the best long-term solution is to make lifestyle choices that can help control the risk factors for coronary artery disease.
Coronary
Artery Disease Symptoms to C
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