Coronary Artery Disease Specialist

What is coronary artery disease?

Coronary artery disease is the narrowing or blockage of your coronary arteries, the arteries that supply oxygen-rich blood to your heart. 

The narrowing or blockage of these arteries usually occurs from plaque buildup along the blood vessel wall, a condition known as atherosclerosis. Plaque contains cholesterol and other substances that slowly collect along the walls of your blood vessels. 

The plaque narrows or blocks the passageway, decreasing or stopping blood flow to your heart, leading to a heart attack. 

What are the symptoms of coronary artery disease?

Coronary artery disease develops over many years, and you may not have any symptoms during the very early stages of the disease. 

However, as the arteries narrow, you may start to experience some mild symptoms that indicate your heart isn’t getting enough oxygen-rich blood, such as:

• Chest pain
• Shortness of breath
• Dizziness
• Poor tolerance to exercise
• Fatigue

Angina is an intermittent type of chest pain that occurs during physical activity and then goes away when at rest. It is one of the most common symptoms of coronary artery disease.

Chest pain may be a symptom of a life-threatening condition like a heart attack and not something you should ignore. If you have chest pain, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. 

How is coronary artery disease diagnosed?

The Cardiac Care Consultants team conducts comprehensive evaluations to diagnose coronary artery disease. They first review your symptoms, medical history, and family history and perform a physical.

Then, they run tests to assess heart health and diagnose coronary artery disease. Testing may include an electrocardiogram (EKG), stress test, an echocardiogram, or cardiac catheterization. 

How is coronary artery disease treated?

The team at Cardiac Care Consultants focuses on providing treatment plans that get you active and keep you active so you can live a long, healthy life with coronary artery disease.

Your treatment plan may include:

• Heart-healthy diet
• A personalized exercise program
• Smoking cessation
• Weight loss
• Medications to improve hypertension or hyperlipidemia
• Anticoagulants

If your coronary artery disease is severe, your cardiologist may recommend the placement of a coronary stent or perform an atherectomy to open the artery and improve blood flow. 

Coronary artery disease develops slowly over time, and your first symptom may be a heart attack. Let the team at Cardiac Care Consultants help you take a proactive and preventive approach to heart health. 

Call the office nearest you or book your coronary artery disease consultation online today.