2022 Southern Medical Research Conference
What Is Coronary Artery Disease?
Coronary artery disease is the most common form of heart disease. It happens when something, like plaque buildup, reduces blood flow to the heart. It can increase your risk of heart attack.
Coronary artery disease (CAD) causes impaired blood flow in the arteries that supply blood to the heart. Also called coronary heart disease (CHD), CAD is the most common form of heart disease and affects approximately 16.5 million Americans over the age of 20.
It's also the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States. It's estimated that every 36 seconds, someone in the United States has a heart attack.
A heart attack can come from uncontrolled CAD.
When your heart doesn't get enough arterial blood, you may experience a variety of symptoms. Angina (chest discomfort) is the most common symptom of CAD. Some people describe this discomfort as:
These symptoms can also be mistaken for heartburn or indigestion.
Other symptoms of CAD include:
You may experience more symptoms when your blood flow is more restricted. If a blockage cuts off blood flow completely or almost completely, your heart muscle will start to die if not restored. This is a heart attack.
Don't ignore any of these symptoms, especially if they are excruciating or last longer than five minutes. Immediate medical treatment is necessary.
Symptoms of CAD for womenWomen may also experience the above symptoms, but they're also more likely to have:
Men have a higher risk of developing heart disease than women, however.
Due to decreased blood flow, your heart may also:
Your doctor will detect these heart abnormalities during diagnosis.
The most common cause of CAD is a vascular injury with cholesterol plaque buildup in the arteries, known as atherosclerosis. Reduced blood flow occurs when one or more of these arteries becomes partially or completely blocked.
Other rare causes of damage or blockage to a coronary artery also limit blood flow to the heart.
Understanding the risk factors for CAD can help with your plan to prevent or decrease the likelihood of developing the disease.
Risk factors include:
The risk for CAD also increases with age. Based on age alone as a risk factor, men have a greater risk for the disease beginning at age 45 and women have a greater risk beginning at age 55. The risk for coronary artery disease is also higher if you have a family history of the disease.
Diagnosing CAD requires a review of your medical history, a physical examination, and other medical testing. These tests include:
The four primary coronary arteries are located on the surface of the heart:
These arteries bring oxygen and nutrient-rich blood to your heart. Your heart is a muscle that's responsible for pumping blood throughout your body and needs oxygen all the time. A healthy heart moves approximately 3,000 gallons of blood through your body every day.
Like any other organ or muscle, your heart must receive an adequate, dependable supply of blood in order to carry out its work. Reduced blood flow to your heart can cause symptoms of CAD.
Everyone's outlook for CAD is different. You have better chances of preventing extensive damage to your heart the earlier you can start your treatment or implement lifestyle changes.
It is important to follow your doctor's instructions. Take medications as directed and make the recommended lifestyle changes. If you have a higher risk for CAD, you can help to prevent the disease by reducing your risk factors.
Your Guide To Medications For Coronary Artery Disease
Several medications help treat and prevent coronary artery disease (CAD). This includes statins to lower cholesterol levels, ACE inhibitors to lower blood pressure, and other drugs that prevent heart attacks.
Coronary artery disease (CAD) occurs when the blood vessels can't carry enough blood and oxygen to the heart. Typically, this is because the vessels are blocked by a fatty substance called plaque.
The goal of CAD treatment is to control symptoms and stop or slow the progression of the disease. Your doctor may prescribe several medications to help achieve these goals and reduce your risk of heart attack.
Read on to learn how medications help treat CAD and prevent related problems.
A common symptom of CAD is angina, or chest pain. If you have angina, your doctor may prescribe short- or long-acting drugs called nitrates to reduce this pain. Nitroglycerin, a type of nitrate, dilates blood vessels and allows the heart to pump blood with less effort. These actions help relieve chest pain.
Beta-blockers are also often prescribed to treat angina. Beta-blockers can slow your heart rate and lower your blood pressure. These actions decrease the amount of oxygen your heart needs to work, which can help relieve angina.
Plaque buildup in your blood vessels is a common feature of CAD. This buildup can cause blood clots to form. These clots can block your vessels and cause a heart attack.
Blood clots are formed by a buildup of platelets, also called thrombocytes, that circulate in blood. These clotting cells bind together into a clot to help your body stop bleeding after an injury. Certain drugs suppress the activity of platelets, making it harder for blood clots to form within your arteries. This effect reduces your risk of heart attack.
Examples of medications that help keep platelets from forming clots include:
Several types of drugs can help lower your blood pressure. These drugs can also help your heart function better in other ways. They include:
Beta-blockersHigh blood pressure can contribute to CAD because it can damage your blood vessels. Beta-blockers help by slowing your heart rate and lowering your blood pressure. These actions also reduce your risk of heart attack, a complication of CAD.
Examples of beta-blockers include:
Calcium channel blockersCalcium channel blockers help increase the amount of oxygen sent to the heart. They relax the vessels of the heart, allowing oxygen-rich blood to flow to it more easily. Calcium channel blockers also lower blood pressure and relax other blood vessels in the body. These effects can decrease the amount of oxygen the heart needs.
Examples of calcium channel blockers include:
ACE inhibitors and ARBsAngiotensin II is a hormone in your body that tightens your blood vessels. Tightening blood vessels raise your blood pressure and increase the amount of oxygen your heart needs.
Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) reduce the effects of angiotensin II. They work to prevent increases in blood pressure. These types of medications can lower your risk of stroke or heart attack.
Examples of ACE inhibitors include:
On April 22, 2022, Pfizer issued a voluntary recall of 5 lots of the drug Accupril due to the presence of nitrosamine. Nitrosamine, a known carcinogen with the potential to cause cancer, was found to exist in the drug at levels greater than the Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) as determined by the FDA. This recall is specific only to a handful of lot numbers and does not affect all Accupril tablets made by Pfizer. If you take Accupril tablets, talk with your pharmacist or doctor and they will help you determine if your medication has been impacted by the recall.
Examples of ARBs include:
Medications used to treat CAD can:
All of these actions can help reduce your CAD symptoms and prevent serious complications, such as heart attack or stroke.
Your doctor can tell you more about drugs that can help your CAD. Questions you might ask them include:
Imaging Of Coronary Atherosclerosis — Evolution Towards New Treatment Strategies
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