Coronary Artery Disease (CAD), or Ischemic Heart Disease, is caused by the narrowing and hardening of the coronary arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle. This results in reduced or completely blocked blood flow, causing heart muscle dysfunction. If severe, it can lead to a myocardial infarction (heart attack).
Symptoms
- No symptoms at all, or chest pain (Angina) characterized by a tight, squeezing, or pressing sensation. The pain may radiate to the shoulders, arms, neck, or feel like a lump in the throat or upper abdomen (epigastrium).
- In cases of a heart attack, chest pain becomes more severe, accompanied by shortness of breath, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, lightheadedness, palpitations, or fainting.
Risk Factors
- Increasing age and a family history of heart disease.
- Smoking, stress, and lack of exercise.
- Diabetes, hypertension (high blood pressure), and hyperlipidemia (high blood cholesterol).
Diagnosis
- Electrocardiogram (EKG/ECG)
- Exercise Stress Test (EST)
- Coronary CT Angiography (CTA)
- Echocardiogram
- Coronary Angiography (CAG)
Coronary Angiography (CAG) involves inserting a very small catheter through the groin or wrist to reach the coronary arteries. A contrast dye is then injected to visualize blood flow and identify abnormalities. This is a highly accurate and precise diagnostic method, allowing physicians to directly see the extent and location of any blockages and determine if Balloon Angioplasty is a viable treatment.
The procedure takes approximately 30–60 minutes. No general anesthesia is required; only local anesthesia is used. A 1-day hospital stay is typically required. Since the results are visible on a monitor in real-time, the findings are available immediately.
Treatment
- Medication
- Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI): Balloon Angioplasty and Stenting
- Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG)
Prevention
Quit smoking, exercise regularly, manage stress, and keep cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood sugar levels within a controlled range.
Balloon Angioplasty and Stenting
- A specialist inserts a balloon catheter into the narrowed section of the artery.
- The balloon is inflated, pushing the artery walls outward to widen the passage. This increases blood flow to the heart muscle, relieving chest pain and tightness.
- A "Stent" is often placed during the procedure to reduce the risk of the artery narrowing again, depending on the physician's discretion.
- Patients typically stay in the hospital for 1–2 days before returning home.
- The success rate for angioplasty procedures is over 90%.
