Understanding Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)
Approximately 20.5 million U.S. Adults have CAD1
CAD is a common type of heart disease that happens when the arteries that supply blood to the heart become narrowed or blocked. It is typically caused by a condition called atherosclerosis, which is the buildup of cholesterol, fat, and plaque on the inside of the heart arteries.2 This buildup restricts blood flow to the heart and reduces the heart’s ability to function properly.
CAD: What Can Put You at Risk
Several factors can increase your risk of developing CAD, including:3
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Smoking
- Diabetes
- Obesity
- Family history of heart disease
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Unhealthy diet
The Signs and Symptoms of CAD
There are several symptoms of CAD – you may experience some or all of the following:
- Chest pain (angina) – Have you experienced a heaviness, tightness, pressure, aching, burning, numbness, fullness, squeezing or a dull ache during or after physical exertion? The pain may radiate to the shoulder, arm, neck, back or jaw.4
- Shortness of breath – Do you have trouble catching your breath when doing regular activities or laying down?4
- Fatigue – Do you constantly feel tired or weak?4
- Pain, numbness or weakness in arms or legs – Are you having unusual feelings in your limbs?5
- Nausea or indigestion – Do you feel sick to your stomach or feel like you have heartburn?5
- Swelling (edema) – This is swelling in the legs, ankles, feet, stomach and neck.6
- Coughing – A persistent, unexplained cough could be a sign that fluid is building up in your lungs.7
- Reduced or low ejection fraction (EF) – EF is the measurement of blood your heart pumps with each beat. An EF below 50% is considered Low EF; normal EF is 50-70%.8
How is CAD Diagnosed?
When diagnosing heart failure or CAD, your physician will take into consideration your medical history, physical examination, family history of heart conditions and diagnostic test results. Testing could include an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG), stress test, coronary angiography, cardiac CT scan or an echocardiogram.
Explore Treatment Options
References
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Cardiovascular disease indicator definitions. CDC. https://www.cdc.gov/cdi/indicator-definitions/cardiovascular-disease.html#:~:text=Approximately%2020.5%20million%20adults%20aged%20%E2%89%A520%20years%20have%20CHD
- Mayo Clinic. Coronary artery disease symptoms and causes. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/coronary-artery-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20350613#:~:text=A%20buildup%20of%20fats%2C%20cholesterol%20and%20other%20substances%20in%20and%20on%20the%20artery%20walls%2C%20a%20condition%20called%20atherosclerosis%2C%20usually%20causes%20coronary%20artery%20disease
- National Center for Biotechnology Information. (2017). There are many risk factors for coronary artery disease. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5686931/#:~:text=There%20are%20many,history%3B%20and%20race
- Mayo Clinic. Coronary artery disease symptoms and causes. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/coronary-artery-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20350613#:~:text=Chest%20pain%2C%20called,feel%20unusually%20tired
- Mount Sinai Health System. What is coronary artery disease? Mount Sinai. https://www.mountsinai.org/care/heart/services/coronary-disease/what-is#:~:text=Signs%20and%20Symptoms,Indigestion%2C%20nausea%2C%20vomiting
- University of Michigan Health. Coronary artery disease (CAD). University of Michigan. https://medicine.umich.edu/dept/cardiac-surgery/patient-information/adult-cardiac-surgery/adult-conditions-treatments/coronary-artery-disease-cad#:~:text=Heart%20failure%20also%20can%20cause%20swelling%20in%20your%20feet%2C%20ankles%2C%20legs%20and%20abdomen
- Cleveland Clinic. Persistent cough: It may be a sign of heart failure. Cleveland Clinic. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/persistent-cough-it-may-be-a-sign-of-heart-failure#:~:text=In%20heart%20failure%2C%20your%20heart%20muscle%20has%20dysfunction%20that%20might%20be%20due%20to%20weak%20contraction%20or%20stiffness.%20This%20can%20allow%20fluid%20to%20back%20up%20in%20your%20lungs%2C%20creating%20a%20condition%20called%20pulmonary%20edema.%20Your%20body%20coughs%20persistently%20in%20an%20effort%20to%20eliminate%20the%20excess%20fluid
- American Heart Association. Ejection fraction: Heart failure measurement. https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/heart-failure/diagnosing-heart-failure/ejection-fraction-heart-failure-measurement#:~:text=An%20EF%20from%2041%20to%2049%20percent%20might%20be%20considered%20too%20low
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Coronary artery disease (CAD): Symptoms and causes. CDC. https://www.cdc.gov/heart-disease/about/coronary-artery-disease.html#cdc_disease_basics_treatment-treatment-and-recovery
- Wollmuth, J., et al. (2022). Cardiac interventions for heart disease. Journal of the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions, 1(5), 100350–100350. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jscai.2022.100350
- O’Neill, E., et al. (2022). Cardiovascular health and interventions. American Heart Journal, 248, 139–149. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ahj.2022.02.006
As with any medical treatment, individual results may vary. Only a physician can determine whether Impella is an option for High-Risk PCI and would be an appropriate course of treatment. There are potential risks including acute renal dysfunction, aortic valve injury, bleeding, cardiogenic shock, cerebral vascular accident/stroke, death, hemolysis, limb ischemia, myocardial infarction, renal failure, thrombocytopenia and cardiac or vascular injury (including ventricular perforation). These risks need to be discussed with your doctor and recovery takes time. The success of this procedure depends on many factors, including your physical condition and your body’s ability to tolerate the procedure. Use care in the selection of your doctors and hospital, based on their skill and experience.
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