ABC Medical Center > Padecimientos > Coronary artery disease (CAD)

What is Coronary artery disease (CAD)?

12:11 - 9 April , 2021

Disease

It is the consequence of cholesterol accumulated in the coronary arteries that becomes a hard plaque that adheres to them, reducing blood circulation and the amount of oxygen supplied to the heart, which can cause a heart attack.

Signs and symptoms Coronary artery disease (CAD)

Some people have no symptoms and others have mild or severe chest pain, depending on the progress of the disease. However, the most frequent are:

  • Weakness and fatigue.
  • Difficulty breathing.
  • Pain in the arms, shoulders, jaw, neck, or back.
  • Heaviness, tightness, or sore chest.

Risks:

You should consider these risk factors together with your ABC doctor in order to prevent this disease and have a healthier heart.

  • High LDL cholesterol, high triglyceride levels, and low HDL cholesterol.
  • Diabetes.
  • Diet rich in saturated fats.
  • Hypertension.
  • Obesity.
  • Family history.
  • Sedentary lifestyle.
  • Smoking.

Prevention:

If you adopt healthy habits, it is possible to prevent this disease.

  • Take care of your pressure and your cholesterol level.
  • Keep a healthy diet, avoiding sugars, sodium, and fats.
  • Exercise daily. 
  • Watch your body weight.
  • Avoid smoking, drinking alcohol, and coffee.
  • Reduce stress.

Diagnosis and treatment Coronary artery disease (CAD)

The most common diagnostic studies are electrocardiogram, stress test, and contrast techniques to monitor heart functions.

Treatment options

To set your personalized treatment, your ABC doctor will consider factors such as age, general condition, and severity of the condition. In many cases it is possible to control it with drugs that lower cholesterol and blood pressure, but in extreme situations, surgery to unclog the blocked artery is indicated.

At the Cardiovascular Center we offer you a wide range of prevention, diagnosis, timely treatment, and follow-up services to take care of you through a comprehensive and multidisciplinary care model. Come to us, we want to hear your heart.

Related centers and departments

Cardiovascular Center
High Specialty Surgery Center
Radiology and Molecular Imaging
Clinical Laboratory

Fuentes: 

  • sociedad española de cardiología
  • mayoclinic.org
  • fundación mexicana del corazón
  • cun.es
  • texasheart.org
  • medigraphic.org
  • Estévez MR. Ecocardiografía en las complicaciones de la enfermedad grave de la microcirculación coronaria. Rev Cub Med Int Emerg. 2020;19(1):1-4.
  • Rodríguez BS, Leyva QAY, Aguilar MJM, et al. Valor del índice neutrófilo-linfocitario en la predicción de la severidad de enfermedad arterial coronaria. Rev Cubana Cardiol Cir Cardiovasc. 2020;26(1):1-6.
  • García HRA, Rivero SL, Hernández NM, et al. Severidad de la enfermedad arterial coronaria y variación del segmento ST en la derivación aVR en el síndrome coronario agudo sin elevación del ST.. Rev Cubana Cardiol Cir Cardiovasc. 2019;25(4):.

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    The dissemination of the content of this material is for informational purposes only and does not replace, under any circumstance or condition, a consultation with a specialist doctor, for which the ABC Medical Center is not responsible for the different use that may be given to it. If you require more information related to the subject, we suggest you contact the specialist doctor you trust directly.