/assets/images/provider/photos/2858500.jpeg)
A coronary artery disease (CAD) diagnosis can seem like a severe blow to your health, but there are things your doctor can do, and things you can do yourself, to help prevent a crisis. Keep reading to learn what’s involved.
Coronary heart disease (aka coronary artery disease or CAD) is the most common type of heart disease. According to the CDC, about 1 in 20 adults have the disease, which killed 371,506 people in the United States in 2022 alone.
It’s important to understand the implications of a CAD diagnosis and heed the advice your doctor gives you to manage the disease so you don’t become another statistic.
At Northwest Houston Heart Center, cardiologists Dr. Adnan Aslam and Dr. Roy Norman understand how frightening it can be to be diagnosed with CAD, which is why, in addition to providing comprehensive cardiac care, it’s one of just three facilities in the Houston area to offer PET scans to accurately and noninvasively detect the disease early, when it’s easier to treat.
If you’re wondering what your CAD diagnosis means for your future, here’s what our experts have to say.
What is CAD?
Coronary artery disease is a condition that affects the main blood vessels supplying the heart, known as the coronary arteries. With CAD, a buildup of a sticky plaque forms on the artery walls. This plaque is composed of fats, cholesterol, proteins, calcium, and cellular debris. It can harden and narrow the arteries so blood has a harder time flowing through them.
This buildup is called atherosclerosis, colloquially known as “hardening of the arteries.” It’s possible to live with the condition for many years without knowing it, as it produces few, if any, symptoms in its early stages. That’s why it’s so important to make regular visits to your cardiologist.
In its more advanced stages, symptoms arise from the lack of blood flow to the heart and may include chest pain (angina), shortness of breath, and fatigue. If the plaque completely blocks blood flow, it can cause a heart attack.
Controllable risk factors for CAD
A number of risk factors for CAD are within your control to reduce. These include:
Smoking
Smoking of any kind increases the likelihood of atherosclerosis, blood vessel disease, and overall poor health. The sooner you quit, the sooner you’ll be on the path to better health.
High blood pressure
Excessive pressure on the artery walls can make them stiffen and lead to atherosclerosis and various types of vascular disease. Since high blood pressure produces no noticeable symptoms, getting your pressure checked at every medical appointment or with a device at home is critical to preventing a problem.
High cholesterol
Cholesterol is an important part of body processes such as building cell membranes and producing hormones, but your body makes all you need. If you consume large amounts of cholesterol in your food, especially a lot of LDL (bad) cholesterol and not enough HDL (good) cholesterol, it can lead to atherosclerosis.
Obesity
A high body weight, especially combined with a sedentary lifestyle, can lead to type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure, both of which increase your risk for CAD. Ask your doctor about medical weight loss if you’re having a problem dropping the pounds, and make sure to get the recommended 150 minutes per week of moderate exercise.
Too much stress
Stress produces hormones like cortisol and adrenaline to help you combat problems. Too much of these hormones, or constantly elevated levels of them, damages arteries, increases blood pressure, and puts you at a higher risk for CAD. Practices like yoga and meditation can help you manage stress levels.
An unhealthy diet
Eating foods filled with saturated fat, trans fat, salt, and sugar can increase your risk for CAD. The Mediterranean or DASH diets, which stress fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains, can reduce your risk for many diseases.
What if I’m diagnosed with CAD?
If the doctor diagnoses you with coronary artery disease, there’s hope. Treatments exist that can help prevent heart attacks, blood clots, and strokes from happening.
The doctor may recommend medication, such as cholesterol medications, beta or calcium-channel blockers, or ACE inhibitors to decrease your blood pressure.
If you have an advanced case and your arteries are blocked, surgery may be necessary. Two procedures commonly used are angioplasty with stent placement to keep the artery open and coronary bypass surgery, in which the doctor circumvents the problematic artery by routing blood through a healthy one.
If you have any of the risk factors for CAD and are worried about what this means for your future, it’s time you came into Northwest Houston Heart Center for a checkup. To get started, give us a call at one of our offices, located in The Woodlands, Cypress, Tomball, and Magnolia, Texas, or book online today. You can also text us at 832-402-9518.