I'm Dr. Stephen Kopecky,
a cardiologist at Mayo Clinic.
In this video, we'll cover the basics of
coronary artery disease. What is it?
Who gets it? The symptoms,
diagnosis and treatment.
Whether you're looking for answers for
yourself or someone you love,
we're here to give you
the best information available.
Coronary artery disease, also called CAD,
is a condition that affects your heart.
It is the most common heart disease
in the United States.
CAD happens when
coronary arteries struggle to supply
the heart with enough blood,
oxygen and nutrients.
Cholesterol deposits, or plaques,
are almost always to blame.
These buildups narrow your arteries,
decreasing blood flow to your heart.
This can cause chest pain,
shortness of breath or even a heart attack.
CAD typically takes a long time to develop.
So often, patients don't know
that they have it until there's a problem.
But there are ways to prevent
coronary artery disease,
and ways to know if you're at risk
and ways to treat it.
Anyone can develop CAD.
It begins when fats, cholesterols
and other substances gather
along the walls of your arteries.
This process is called atherosclerosis.
It's typically no cause for concern.
However, too much buildup can lead
to a blockage, obstructing blood flow.
There are a number of risk factors,
common red flags, that can contribute to this
and ultimately lead to
coronary artery disease.
First, getting older can
mean more damaged and narrowed arteries.
Second, men are generally at a greater risk.
But the risk for women
increases after menopause.
Existing health conditions matter, too.
High blood pressure can
thicken your arteries,
narrowing your blood flow.
High cholesterol levels can
increase the rate of plaque buildup.
Diabetes is also associated with higher risk,
as is being overweight.
Your lifestyle plays a large role as well.
Physical inactivity,
long periods of unrelieved stress in
your life, an unhealthy diet
and smoking can all increase your risk.
And finally, family history.
If a close relative was
diagnosed at an early age with heart disease,
you're at a greater risk.
All these factors together can paint
a picture of your risk for developing CAD.
When coronary arteries become narrow,
the heart doesn't get
enough oxygen-rich blood.
Remember, unlike most pumps,
the heart has to pump its own energy supply.
It's working harder with less.
And you may begin to notice these signs and symptoms
of pressure or
tightness in your chest.
This pain is called angina.
It may feel like somebody
is standing on your chest.
When your heart can't pump
enough blood to meet your body's needs,
you might develop shortness of
breath or extreme fatigue during activities.
And if an artery becomes totally blocked,
it leads to a heart attack.
Classic signs and symptoms of a heart attack
include crushing, substernal chest pain,
pain in your shoulders or arms,
shortness of breath, and sweating.
However, many heart attacks have minimal or
no symptoms and are found later
during routine testing.
Diagnosing CAD starts by
talking to your doctor.
They'll be able to look
at your medical history,
do a physical exam
and order routine blood work.
Depending on that, they may
suggest one or more of the following tests.
An electrocardiogram, or ECG,
an echocardiogram,
or soundwave test of the heart,
stress test, cardiac catheterization and
angiogram, or a cardiac CT scan.
Treating coronary artery disease
usually means making
changes to your lifestyle.
This might be eating healthier foods,
exercising regularly, losing excess weight,
reducing stress or quitting smoking.
The good news is these changes
can do a lot to improve your outlook.
Living a healthier life
translates to having healthier arteries.
When necessary, treatment could
involve drugs like aspirin,
cholesterol-modifying medications,
beta-blockers, or
certain medical procedures like
angioplasty or
coronary artery bypass surgery.
Discovering you have coronary
artery disease can be
overwhelming. But be encouraged.
There are things you can do to
manage and live with this condition.
Reducing cholesterol,
lowering blood pressure, quitting tobacco,
eating healthier, exercising and
managing your stress can
make a world of difference.
Better heart health starts
by educating yourself.
So don't be afraid to
seek out information and
ask your doctors about
coronary artery disease.
If you'd like to learn even
more about this condition,
watch our other related videos or
visit Mayoclinic.org. We wish you well.