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This often preventable disease causes the dangerous thickening and narrowing of the coronary arteries—the vessels that bring blood to the heart—which disrupts the flow of oxygen and nutrients to the heart, causing serious problems.
Without enough blood, coronary artery disease can lead to angina chest pain. Over time, the heart has to work harder, possibly causing heart failure when the heart cannot pump efficiently or arrhythmia when the heart beats irregularly or too quickly. The damaged arteries may become completely blocked, or become prone to clotting, causing a heart attack. Preventing coronary artery disease is largely about controlling the risk factors.
Smart steps to take:. Because coronary artery disease develops over time, the symptoms depend on the stage of illness. Damage may be present without outward signs. Some people have mild episodes of these symptoms. For others, the first experience is more severe chest pain, even heart attack. To diagnose coronary artery disease, your doctor will look at markers such as blood pressure, cholesterol profile and blood glucose from a blood test as well as your health history and family history, says McEvoy.
This information can help estimate your year cardiovascular risk—your odds of a heart attack or stroke. Depending on the symptoms you have, tests that may be given to provide additional information include:. Depending on your health status and goals, there are three key approaches to treating heart disease:.
Lifestyle changes. The same steps for preventing coronary artery disease are part of a treatment approach to forestalling further problems—that is, modify the many factors that are in your control, like diet, exercise, de-stressing and not smoking. You may be prescribed medications to manage the risk factors for coronary artery disease, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, prediabetes and diabetes. Ask your doctor what level LDL is best for you. If your test results aren't meeting your targeted levels, you may need more-frequent cholesterol tests.
Regular medical checkups are also important. Some of the main risk factors for coronary artery disease — high cholesterol, high blood pressure and diabetes — have no symptoms in the early stages. Early detection and treatment can help you maintain better heart health.
Omega-3 fatty acids are a type of unsaturated fatty acid that's thought to reduce inflammation throughout the body, a contributing factor to coronary artery disease.
However, some studies haven't found a benefit. More research is needed. Other supplements may help reduce your blood pressure or cholesterol level, two contributing factors to coronary artery disease. These include:. Always talk to your doctor before adding a new over-the-counter medication or supplement to your treatment plan. Some drugs and supplements can interfere with other medications and cause side effects or make them less effective. If you know you have symptoms of or risk factors for coronary artery disease, you're likely to see your primary care doctor.
Eventually, you may be referred to a heart specialist cardiologist. Here's some information to help you get ready for your appointment and to know what to expect from your doctor. It's never too early to make healthy lifestyle changes, such as quitting smoking, eating healthy foods and getting more exercise. These habits protect against coronary artery disease and its complications, including heart attack and stroke.
Coronary artery disease care at Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version.
Diagnosis The doctor will ask questions about your medical history, do a physical exam and order routine blood tests. He or she may suggest one or more diagnostic tests as well, including: Electrocardiogram ECG. An electrocardiogram records electrical signals as they travel through your heart. An ECG can often reveal evidence of a previous heart attack or one that's in progress.
Care at Mayo Clinic Our caring team of Mayo Clinic experts can help you with your coronary artery disease-related health concerns Start Here. Coronary artery stent Open pop-up dialog box Close. Coronary artery stent When placing a coronary artery stent, your doctor will find a blockage in your heart's arteries A. Coronary bypass surgery Open pop-up dialog box Close.
Coronary bypass surgery Coronary bypass surgery is a procedure that restores blood flow to your heart muscle by diverting the flow of blood around a section of a blocked artery in your heart. The following changes can help anyone who wants to improve heart health:. Check your cholesterol. Ask your doctor for a baseline cholesterol test when you're in your 20s and then at least every five years. You may need to start testing earlier if high cholesterol is in your family. If your test results aren't within desirable ranges, your doctor may recommend more-frequent measurements.
Also, get regular medical checkups. Early detection and treatment can set the stage for a lifetime of better heart health. You may feel frustrated, upset or overwhelmed upon learning that you or your loved one has heart disease.
Here are some ways to help cope with heart disease or improve your condition:. Some types of heart disease will be discovered without an appointment — for example, if a child is born with a serious heart defect, it will be detected soon after birth.
In other cases, your heart disease may be diagnosed in an emergency situation, such as a heart attack. If you think you have heart disease or are worried about your heart disease risk because of your family history, see your family doctor. You may be referred to a heart specialist cardiologist. It's never too early to make healthy lifestyle changes, such as quitting smoking, eating healthy foods and becoming more physically active.
A healthy lifestyle is the main protection against heart disease and its complications. Heart disease care at Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products.
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