Coronary artery disease is plaque buildup that gets accumulated in the arteries that supply oxygen-rich blood to the heart. Plaque causes a blockage or constriction in the arteries, leading to a heart attack. Chest pain or discomfort and shortness of breath are some of the most common symptoms. Dietary modifications, medicines to address your risk factors and/or surgery may be used as treatments.
Coronary artery disease develops when the principal blood vessels in your heart become damaged or diseased. Inflammation and cholesterol-containing deposits (plaques) in your coronary arteries cause coronary artery disease: the coronary arteries transport blood, oxygen and nutrients to your heart.
According to Coronary artery disease definition, it is a narrowing or blockage of your coronary arteries caused by the accumulation of plaque buildup. It is a kind of coronary artery disease known as coronary heart disease, ischemic heart disease and heart disease.
Coronary arteries are the blood vessels that carry oxygen-rich blood to your heart muscle, allowing it to continue to beat. We have four major coronary arteries in our body:
What happens to the arteries?
Atherosclerosis is the cause of coronary artery disease. The buildup of plaque accumulated inside your arteries is known as atherosclerosis. Plaque can cause blood flow to your heart muscle to be restricted or stopped. Your heart cannot obtain the oxygen and nutrients it needs to function correctly if it does not get enough blood. Chest discomfort or pain might result from a lack of blood supply to your heart muscle (called angina). It also raises your chances of having a heart attack.
What causes plaque to form in the arteries?
Coronary artery disease affects everyone at some point in their lives. The rate at which it develops varies accordingly. When you are young, the process typically begins. The walls of the blood vessels begin to develop fat streaks before your teen years. As plaque builds up in the inner walls of your arteries, your body responds by sending white blood cells to attack the cholesterol, but the attack results in further inflammation. Other artery wall cells respond by producing a soft covering over the plaque.
The plaque’s delicate crown possesses the potential to break open (due to blood pressure or other causes). Platelets are blood cell fragments that cling to “the injury” site and form a clot.
The clot narrows the arteries even more. A blood clot may dissolve on its own at times. A clot in an artery can occasionally restrict blood flow, depriving the heart of oxygen and resulting in a heart attack.
Plaque buildup in these arteries can restrict them, decreasing blood flow to the heart. Chest pain (angina), shortness of breath and other signs and symptoms of coronary artery disease may develop due to reduced blood flow. A total blockage can cause a heart attack.
You may not detect a problem until you have a large blockage or a heart attack since coronary artery disease commonly develops over decades. However, you can adopt precautions to avoid this.
Your coronary arteries will be unable to provide your heart with adequate oxygen-rich blood if they contract, especially while it is working hard, as it is during exercise. Reduced blood flow may not create any symptoms at first. However, as plaque builds up in your coronary arteries, you may experience the following signs and symptoms of coronary artery disease:
Pain in the chest (angina): As if someone were standing on your chest, you may feel pressure or tightness in your chest. Angina is a type of chest pain that typically appears in the middle or left side of the chest. Angina is most commonly brought on by physical or emotional strain. After ceasing the stressful activity, the pain normally goes away within minutes. The pain in some people, particularly women, might be mild or severe.
Breathing problems: Shortness of breath or excessive weariness may occur if your heart cannot pump enough blood to meet your body’s needs.
A heart attack has occurred: A clogged coronary artery causes a heart attack. Crushing pressure in your chest, pain in your shoulder or arm and shortness of breath and sweat are all classic indications and symptoms of a heart attack.
Women are slightly more likely than males to suffer less conventional heart attack signs and symptoms, such as neck or jaw pain. They may also have other symptoms like shortness of breath, exhaustion and nausea. A heart attack can happen without any warning signs or symptoms.
If you have symptoms of coronary artery disease, what should you do?
Because the symptoms of coronary artery disease might mimic those of a heart attack, you should seek medical assistance right away.
A stroke can occur if a blood clot in a coronary artery breaks loose and travels to your brain. However, this is uncommon. A stroke can cause the following symptoms:
One half of your face is drooping. Examine your smile in the mirror or have someone else do it.
How can you know if you have coronary artery disease?
Coronary artery disease classification for diagnosis includes:
Your healthcare professional will discuss the best treatment strategy for you. To lower your risk of complications from coronary artery disease, such as heart attack and stroke, stick to your treatment plan. Reducing your risk factors is the first step in treating coronary artery disease. This entails making lifestyle adjustments.
Nonsurgical therapies to remove plaque accumulation in the arteries and prevent blockages are interventional procedures. Balloon angioplasty and stenting are two common procedures. These treatments are carried out using a catheter, which is a long, thin tube. Through a small incision at the wrist or the top of the thigh, it is put into an artery and guided to the blocked or narrowed portion of the artery. The balloon expands the artery’s diameter, allowing blood to flow again to the heart. To keep your artery open, a stent (a small metal spring-like scaffold) is left in place. There are, however, several risk factors that you can alter. These are largely lifestyle modifications, such as decreasing weight if you’re overweight, quitting smoking if you smoke and maintaining a healthy blood pressure level.
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