Are the blood vessels that supply blood to your heart blocked? Learn about Coronary Artery Disease

Our heart is an amazing organ that works 24 hours a day, without any rest. It's like a machine that runs non-stop. So, for this hard-working heart and its muscles to work well, they need a constant supply of clean, oxygen-rich blood. But imagine, what happens if the delicate channels that carry blood to this heart start to get clogged? That's what we call Coronary Artery Disease ( CAD ) .

Simply put, what is coronary artery disease (CAD)?

Simply put, this is when the coronary arteries , which supply oxygenated blood to our heart, become narrowed or blocked. Over time, things like cholesterol build up on the walls of these arteries, forming a layer we call 'plaque' .

This is like rust building up inside an old water pipe. This plaque reduces the space inside the blood vessels, which limits the amount of blood that can flow to the heart.

Often, this condition can develop inside the body for years without any symptoms. That's why some people call it the "silent killer." Sometimes, one of these deposits can suddenly burst, forming a blood clot that completely blocks the artery. That's when we have the emergency we call a heart attack .

There are two main types of this disease.

We are talking about this disease in two main parts.

1. Stable Ischemic Heart Disease: This is the type that develops slowly over time. Your coronary arteries gradually narrow over many years. You may experience some symptoms (such as chest pain ), especially when you are stressed. But you can usually carry out your daily activities.

2. Acute Coronary Syndrome: This is a dangerous condition that occurs suddenly and requires immediate medical attention. In this case, a plaque inside the artery suddenly ruptures, forming a blood clot that completely blocks blood flow. This is what causes a heart attack. This is a medical emergency .

What are the symptoms of this disease?

Many people don't have any symptoms for a long time. This is because these deposits take years, even decades, to build up. But as the arteries begin to narrow, you may start to experience subtle symptoms. These are signs that your heart is working harder than usual to get the oxygen it needs.

The main symptoms are:

• Stable Angina: This is the most common symptom. It is characterized by chest tightness, heaviness, pain, or discomfort. It usually occurs when you exercise, walk quickly, or get angry. The pain usually goes away after a short rest.
• Dyspnea: Some people experience shortness of breath, often with difficulty breathing, even when doing simple tasks, such as climbing stairs.

Why do we get this disease? What are the risk factors?

The main cause of coronary artery disease is atherosclerosis . That is, as we discussed earlier, the buildup of cholesterol and other substances in the artery walls, forming plaque. When this condition affects the arteries of the heart, we call it CAD.

There are many risk factors that can affect the development of this disease. Some of them we cannot control, but many of them we can control with lifestyle changes and medication. Let's see what these are.

How does a doctor diagnose this disease?

Your doctor will first ask you about your symptoms, your lifestyle, and any medical conditions in your family. He or she will then perform a physical exam and check your blood pressure. Based on this information, if he or she suspects you have the condition, he or she may recommend further tests to confirm the diagnosis.

Some of them are:

• Blood Tests: Check things like cholesterol and sugar levels.
• ECG (Electrocardiogram): Check the electrical activity of the heart.
• Exercise Stress Test (Treadmill Test): Your heart is monitored using an ECG while you walk on a treadmill.
• Echocardiogram: A scan of the heart.
• CT Coronary Angiogram: A special CT scan that takes three-dimensional images of the blood vessels of the heart.
• Coronary Angiogram (Cardiac Catheterization): In this, a thin tube is passed through a vein in the arm or leg into the heart, a dye is injected, and an X-ray is taken to see exactly how blocked the artery is.

What are the treatment options?

There are two main goals in treating coronary artery disease. One is to control symptoms and improve quality of life. The other is to reduce the risk of serious complications, such as heart attack.

Treatment methods can be divided into three main categories:

1. Lifestyle changes

This is the most important and fundamental thing.

• Quitting smoking completely.
• A heart-healthy diet: Low in salt, oil, and sugar, and high in vegetables, fruits, greens, and fiber.
• Regular exercise: Engage in exercise, such as brisk walking, for at least 30 minutes a day, at least 5 days a week.
• Controlling body weight.
• Reducing stress.

2. Medicines (medicines)

Your doctor will prescribe various medications to control risk factors and reduce symptoms.

• Cholesterol-lowering medications (Statins).
• Blood pressure control medication.
• Medicines that prevent blood clotting (like Aspirin).
• Medicines that control chest pain (Angina).

3. Surgery and other methods

For some people, especially those with severely blocked tubes, medication alone is not enough. In such cases, it is necessary to resort to this type of treatment.

• Angioplasty and stenting (Percutaneous Coronary Intervention - PCI): This involves passing a thin tube with a balloon into the blocked artery, inflating it to reopen the artery, and then inserting a small mesh tube called a stent to prevent the artery from narrowing again.
• Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG): This involves creating a new route around a blocked artery. A healthy blood vessel taken from another part of the body (usually the leg or chest) is used to connect the artery around and around the blocked artery, creating a new route for blood to flow.

When should I see a doctor urgently/go to the ETU?

If you experience symptoms of a heart attack , go to a hospital's Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU) immediately or call an ambulance. Time is of the essence here.

The main symptoms of a heart attack:

• A severe, squeezing, crushing pain in the middle of the chest.
• This pain spreads to the left arm, neck, jaw, back, or shoulder.
• Difficulty breathing.
• Heavy sweating, dizziness, vomiting.

If you have coronary artery disease, it's important to stay in regular contact with your doctor. If you develop new symptoms, have side effects from your medications, or have any questions about your condition, call your doctor right away.