Coronary Artery Disease

Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)

1. Recognising the Heart's Silent Threat

A serious threat to cardiovascular health, Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) affects millions of individuals globally. This sneaky ailment, which goes by the names ischemic heart disease and atherosclerotic heart disease, is the most common type of heart disease and the primary cause of morbidity and death worldwide.
The slow but deadly process of coronary artery narrowing and blockage, which occurs in the heart muscle's supply of oxygen and nutrients, leads to the development of coronary artery disease (CAD).

2. Pathophysiology of CAD

Atherosclerosis is a complicated, long-term inflammatory disease that is the root cause of CAD. The buildup of fats, cholesterol, and other materials on the inside of the coronary arteries is the first sign of atherosclerosis. These deposits eventually turn into plaques, which can harden and narrow the arteries, preventing blood flow. The heart muscle's ability to receive oxygen and nutrients may be restricted by the narrowing or stenosis.
The plaques are more prone to breaking as they get bigger. Blood clots may form as a result of a ruptured plaque, abruptly and totally blocking the artery. Acute coronary syndromes, such as unstable angina or myocardial infarction (heart attack), are frequently brought on by this crucial event.

3. Risk Factors

The multifactorial nature of CAD comes from a host of factors--both modifiable and non-modifiable. To prevent and control CAD, these risk factors must be realized and dealt with.

Unhealthy Diet: Diets rich in cholesterol, sodium, and saturated and trans fats lead to the development of Atherosclerosis.
Physical Inactivity: CAD is associated with sedentary lifestyles, which increase the chances of getting obesity, hypertension, and diabetes.
Use of Tobacco: Smoking injures arteries, lowers tissue oxygen levels, and accelerates atherosclerosis.
Overindulgence in Alcohol: Long-term drinking will raise blood pressure, aggravate heart failure and diabetes., as well as obesity.
Obesity: The overweight also raises the risk of coronary artery disease (CAD) by increasing triglyceride and cholesterol.

Age: Most heart attack victims are over the age of 65, and CAD risk increases with age.
Gender: Thus though women's risk increases after menopause, premenstrual women are still at lower relative risk generally than males.
Family History: A family history of CAD makes a person more prone to the illness.
Ethnicity: Some ethnic groups, such as African Americans, are more prone to develop CAD.

4. Clinical Presentation

Coronary artery disease (CAD) frequently advances silently, showing symptoms only when there is a severe reduction in blood supply to the heart muscle. Chest pain or discomfort is the hallmark of angina pectoris, the classic CAD symptom. The back, shoulders, neck, jaw, and arms could all feel the same pain. However, unusual symptoms like fatigue, nausea, or shortness of breath can occur in some CAD patients, especially in women.
Myocardial infarction and unstable angina are two acute coronary syndromes that can result from severe cases of CAD. A heart attack can cause excruciating chest pain, perspiration, dyspnea, and a feeling of impending death. To reduce damage to the heart muscle during a heart attack, prompt medical attention is essential.

5. Diagnosis and Treatment

A combination of imaging tests, physical examination, cardiac catheterization, and medical history assessment are used to diagnose coronary artery disease (CAD). Electrocardiograms (ECG or EKG), stress tests, echocardiograms, and coronary angiography are common diagnostic instruments.
The goals of CAD treatment plans are to minimize future events, avoid complications, and alleviate symptoms. The cornerstone of CAD management is changing one's lifestyle to include a heart-healthy diet, regular exercise, quitting smoking, and stress reduction. It may be necessary to prescribe medications like beta-blockers, statins, antiplatelet agents, and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors to reduce risk factors and enhance cardiac function.