Coronary artery disease is a condition that occurs when the major blood vessels that provide blood and oxygen to the heart become blocked due to plaque build-up or inflammation.

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is also known as coronary heart disease or ischemic heart disease and is the most common type of heart disease in the United States.

CAD is the leading cause of death in the United States.

Coronary artery disease is also called "atherosclerosis" or "hardening of the arteries."

What are the symptoms of CAD?

When should you call your doctor?

How is CAD diagnosed?

Read on for the answers.....

What are the symptoms of coronary artery disease?

Symptoms appear when the heart muscle does not receive the oxygen and nutrients it needs due to the blockage in the heart. 

You may not even notice them, or they may only occur during strenuous activity. 

Symptoms may increase in frequency and severity as the arteries become more and more blocked over time, or sometimes the first symptom is a heart attack.

Some symptoms you might notice include:

• Chest pain (angina), pressure, or discomfort is the most common symptom
• Tightness or burning in the chest
• Cold sweats
• Pain or discomfort in shoulders or arms, throat, neck, back, or jaw
• Indigestion
• Nausea
• Shortness of breath
• Fatigue
• Weakness
• Lightheadedness
• Sleep disturbances
• Heart attack

Women are less likely to have pain; but may instead experience dizziness,

extreme fatigue, chest tightness or pressure, stomach pain, or nausea.

Chest pain that does not go away with rest or becomes more frequent might be a heart attack. A heart attack is a medical emergency: call 9-1-1 if you or someone you are close to is experiencing heart attack symptoms.

When should I call my doctor?

Call your doctor if you are experiencing symptoms of coronary artery disease, especially if you have any of the risk factors for CAD.

Call 9-1-1 if you or someone close to you has symptoms of a heart attack (chest pain, shortness of breath, excessive sweating, or nausea). 

Do not try to drive yourself or someone else to the hospital unless necessary. The ambulance crew will have the equipment to start treating you on the way to the hospital; this early treatment can mean the difference between life and death.

How is coronary artery disease diagnosed?

Your doctor will ask you questions about your symptoms, family medical history, and CAD risk factors. 

They will check your blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, and other blood tests. 

If they suspect that you have coronary artery disease or may have had a heart attack, they may order tests to check your heart's function. 

Tests may include:

• Chest x-ray
• Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG)
• Echocardiogram (ultrasound of your heart)
• Exercise stress test (exercise while hooked to an ECG)
• Nuclear stress test (similar to an exercise stress test, but also takes pictures of your heart's function)
• Cardiac CT scan
• Heart catheterization
• Angiogram

Take away

Coronary artery disease is a common type of heart disease and can lead to a heart attack and death if not recognized and treated early. 

Eating a heart-healthy diet, regular exercise, and other heart-healthy lifestyle changes (such as smoking cessation) can decrease your chances of developing CAD or help your body heal from it.

Contact your doctor if you have risk factors or symptoms of CAD. 

Call 9-1-1 if you or someone close to you starts to show signs of a heart attack.

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Thank you for reading!

Sources:

Coronary artery disease - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic

Coronary artery disease - Diagnosis and treatment - Mayo Clinic

Coronary Artery Disease | cdc.gov

Coronary Heart Disease - What Is Coronary Heart Disease? | NHLBI, NIH

Coronary Heart Disease - Causes and Risk Factors | NHLBI, NIH