What Is Coronary Heart Disease?
When Is Coronary Artery Disease Considered A Disability?
Coronary artery disease is a heart disease caused by plaque buildup on the artery walls. If the condition prevents someone from working, it may qualify as a disability.
Coronary artery disease is a common heart disease that happens when plaque, a fatty substance made of cholesterol and other lipids, builds up on the walls of your arteries. Over time, it can lead to serious heart complications, including a heart attack.
Sometimes, coronary heart disease can affect your daily life and can prevent you from working. If this happens, then your coronary heart disease might meet the requirements to be considered a disability. In this case, you might qualify for disability benefits and services.
Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a type of heart disease that occurs when a substance made of cholesterol and other fats builds up on the walls of the arteries. This substance is called plaque.
Plaque buildup causes the arteries to narrow. It can lead to a variety of health complications, including heart attack.
CAD is very common. In fact, it's the most common type of heart disease in the United States.
There are times when CAD can be a disability. But not everyone with CAD can qualify for disability programs and benefits.
The exact requirements will depend on the agency or programming offering the benefits. As a rule, for CAD to be considered a disability, it must cause significant difficulties in your everyday life. These difficulties must make you unable to maintain your job.
You'll typically be asked to prove both that you've received a CAD diagnosis and that it prevents you from working.
The exact definition of a disability varies depending on the organization or agency you are seeking services from.
In the United States, the Social Security Admiration (SSA) defines a disability as a condition that prevents you from working and is expected to last for at least 2 years or until your death.
Not all programs follow the same standards as the SSA, but having a condition that meets the SSA requirements for a disability will typically also allow you to apply with other agencies and service providers.
Often, the first sign of CAD is a heart attack. Yet CAD can cause chronic chest pain and discomfort long before a heart attack occurs.
If you're having a heart attack, symptoms might include:
CAD is very common. Certain risk factors can make developing CAD more likely. They can include:
Several treatment options are available for CAD. Your doctor will prescribe the one that best fits you, the severity of your condition, and your overall health.
Treatment options include:
The exact outlook for people with CAD can vary.
Often, CAD can be managed with lifestyle changes such as weight loss, quitting smoking, and starting a physical fitness routine. Plus, medications can help lower cholesterol or blood pressure.
Yet CAD can lead to serious complications, including:
Treatment and lifestyle changes can help reduce the risk of these complications.
You can learn more about CAD and disability by reading the answers to some common questions.
Will I qualify for disability if I've had a heart attack caused by CAD?A heart attack alone isn't enough to show that your condition meets the requirements to be considered a disability. You will still need to show that it prevents you from working.
Can I prevent CAD?There is no guaranteed way to prevent CAD. But by taking steps to manage the risk factors within your control, you can lower your overall risk. This includes steps such as:
What should I eat to lower my risk of CAD?In general, it's best to follow a heart-healthy diet that is low in saturated fats and cholesterol. You can learn more about eating to support your heart health in this article.
CAD is a common heart disease caused by plaque buildup in your arteries. Over time, CAD can lead to a heart attack and other serious heart complications.
Not everyone with CAD meets the requirements for a disability, as set by agencies such as the SSA. But if your CAD prevents you from working, it might qualify.
Treatment can help lower the risk of CAD that leads to disability and to serious complications.
How Is Coronary Artery Disease Diagnosed?
Coronary artery disease (CAD) may go overlooked until someone has a heart attack. Imaging tests, like coronary angiograms, can be used to diagnose CAD.
Coronary artery disease (CAD) is caused by plaque buildup in the walls of arteries that supply blood to the heart. In the United States, CAD is the most common form of heart disease.
Many people do not have symptoms of CAD until a severe blockage occurs, which can be life threatening. CAD is a leading cause of death worldwide, resulting in at least 350,000 deaths each year.
For anyone with risk factors or early symptoms of CAD, blood tests and medical imaging can be used to diagnose the condition before a heart attack or heart failure occurs.
For many people, the first sign of CAD is a heart attack. But doctors may be able to detect warning signs of CAD during a physical exam before this happens.
During a physical exam, your doctor can get a better idea of how your blood is flowing by:
Your doctor may want to check you for signs of CAD if you have risk factors, such as:
When warning signs and symptoms of CAD are present, your doctor will typically request blood tests and medical imaging of the heart and blood vessels to get a diagnosis. These tests allow healthcare professionals to get a better idea of the heart's structure and function, as well as evidence of where any blockages may be.
Typically, the first sign of CAD is often a heart attack.
Warning signs of heart attacks include:
Even if you do not have a heart attack, the vast majority of people with CAD have chest pain because their heart is not getting enough blood and reduced levels of oxygen.
While everyone's symptoms can vary, research suggests that women are more likely to have atypical symptoms, like:
A wide range of tests can be used to detect coronary artery disease.
If you have risk factors or symptoms of CAD, your doctor may recommend one or several of the following:
Healthcare professionals may also request blood work to determine if there are elevated levels of any substances in the blood that might be a sign of plaque buildup or decreased heart function.
It depends. Your out-of-pocket costs for diagnostic testing can vary greatly depending on your insurance coverage and the location you have the tests done at.
The type of diagnostic test recommended can also affect the cost. You'll need to speak with your doctor and insurance company about your expected costs and circumstances.
If you're worried about affording the cost of CAD diagnostic testing, you may wish to speak with your doctor about payment plan options. You could also check if other local locations provide the test for a cheaper price.
If you have HSA or FSA funds, these can typically be used to help cover the cost of your testing.
There are several ways to monitor aspects of your heart health at home, but it's not advised — or often possible — to try diagnosing a serious condition like a heart blockage yourself.
If you believe you're having any symptoms of CAD, it's important to seek immediate medical attention.
CAD is a type of heart disease that, if left untreated, can result in heart attack or heart failure. Blocked blood flow to the heart is a medical emergency, so seek medical assistance right away if you have any symptoms of CAD.
Detecting coronary artery disease early is one of the best ways to help prevent serious heart health emergencies.
If you have any risk factors or early warning signs of CAD, your doctor may recommend blood tests and medical imaging to determine if you have this condition.
Risk Factors For Heart Disease
CAD, also called heart disease, or coronary heart disease, causes roughly 805,000 heart attacks and leads to 696,000 deaths each year in the U.S.
Because heart disease is so common and often is silent until it strikes, it is important to recognize the factors that put you at risk.
There are risk factors for heart disease that you have control over and others that you don't. Uncontrollable risk factors for heart disease include:
Heart disease risk factors that you can control revolve around lifestyle. These include:
Research shows heart disease may be preventable more than half the time with simple changes in lifestyle. Besides lowering your risk for heart attack and stroke, these changes often can improve your overall physical and mental health. Here are some ways you can change lifestyle factors to reduce your risk of heart disease:
Quit smoking. Smoking is the most preventable risk factor. Smokers have more than twice the risk of heart attack as nonsmokers and are much more likely to die from them. If you smoke, quit. Better yet, don't start smoking in the first place. Even if you don't smoke, constant exposure to other people's cigarette smoke (secondhand smoke) raises your risk of heart disease.
Improve cholesterol levels. Your risk for heart disease increases with unhealthy cholesterol numbers. The right levels can vary somewhat depending on your age, sex, overall health, and family health history. Ask your doctor about the right levels for you. In general, though, your levels should be as follows:
A diet low in cholesterol, saturated and trans fats, and simple sugars, and high in complex carbohydrates can help lower cholesterol levels in some people. Regular exercise will also help lower "bad" cholesterol and raise "good" cholesterol in some cases.
If that's not enough, your doctor may suggest a cholesterol medication, like a statin, to help lower levels.
Control high blood pressure. About 67 million people in the U.S. Have high blood pressure, making it the most common risk factor for heart disease. Nearly 1 in 3 adults have systolic blood pressure (the upper number) over 130, and/or diastolic blood pressure (the lower number) over 80, which is the definition of high blood pressure. Your doctor will assess your blood pressure numbers in light of your overall health, lifestyle, and other risk factors. You and your doctor can come up with a plan to help control blood pressure through diet, exercise, weight management, and, if needed, medication.
Control diabetes. If not properly controlled, diabetes can lead to heart disease and heart damage, including heart attacks. Control diabetes through a healthy diet, exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, and medication as prescribed by your doctor.
Get active. People who don't exercise have higher rates of heart disease compared to people who perform even moderate amounts of physical activity. A bit of light gardening or walking can lower your risk of heart disease.
Most people should exercise 30 minutes a day, at moderate intensity, on most days. More vigorous exercise could help even more, but talk to your doctor first. Try to use large muscle groups and get your heart rate up. Aerobic activities that raise your heart rate include brisk walking, cycling, swimming, jumping rope, and jogging. You can also lift weights to increase strength and muscle endurance.
If motivation is a problem, make an exercise menu. Pick a couple of activities that sound like fun. That way, you always have some choices. Consult your doctor before starting any exercise program, especially if you have underlying health conditions or haven't exercised in a while.
Eat right. Eat a heart-healthy diet low in sodium, saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol, and refined sugars. Try to increase your intake of foods rich in vitamins and other nutrients, especially antioxidants, which may lower your risk for heart disease. Also eat plant-based foods such as fruits and vegetables, nuts, and whole grains.
Rethink your drink. Limit alcohol. Moderate drinking may be OK, but more than that isn't good for your heart health. What's moderate drinking? Up to one glass a day for women, and up to two glasses a day for men.
Maintain a healthy weight. Obesity by itself could raise your risk for heart disease. In addition, excess weight puts strain on your heart and often raises your risk of other heart disease risk factors like diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. A balanced diet and regular exercise can help you keep a healthy weight. Talk to your doctor if you need a safe plan for weight loss or if you want to figure out the right body weight for your heart health.
Manage stress. Poorly controlled stress and anger can worsen heart disease. Some approaches include:
Talk to your doctor. Discuss your lifestyle as well as your family's medical history with your doctor. Together you'll be able to come up with a plan best suited to your needs.
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