Coronary Artery Disease
- Mahalaxmi Chada
- Jul 27, 2025
- 2 min read
Coronary Artery Disease, or CAD for short, is a disease in which the arteries of the heart are narrowed or blocked, hence reducing blood supply in the heart. It is one of the most common heart disease found amongst individuals and is considered one of the leading causes of death.
Causes: CAD is caused by several factors. Plaque created by cholesterol and other substances build up in the arteries and restrict blood flow. The buildup of plaque can take many years and hence CAD goes unnoticed by most in their lifetime.
Several risk factors include:
Poor diet and obesity: High-fat, high-cholesterol diets increase the risk of plaque buildup.
Age and gender: Men over 45 are more likely to develop CAD.
Stress: Chronic stress may contribute to plaque accumulation.
Smoking and vaping: These habits damage blood vessels and promote plaque formation.
Lack of physical activity: Inactive lifestyles increase the risk of high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
Symptoms:
Common symptoms of CAD include shortness of breathe during light activities, temporary chest pain known as stable angina, and worst case the first symptom may be a heart attack. Some individuals feel pain in their neck, jaw, or back due to the restricted blood flow. Heart palpitations are also very common and should not be taken lightly. See a doctor immediately if you feel dizziness, fatigue during light :, heart palpitations, and/or chest pain.
Treatment:
The least intensive form of treatment is simply an improved diet and way of life. Reducing the amount of cholesterol in ones diet along with exercising daily can prevent the buildup of plaque. Quitting smoking or vaping can also prevent the buildup of plaque in the arteries. In some cases medications may be given that lower blood pressure, prevent clots, and lower cholesterol. In cases where an individuals arteries are severely blocked, one would have to opt in for surgery. The two most common types include PCI and Coronary artery bypass grafting. Complications of these treatments include bleeding, blood clots, coughing, infection and more.
Coronary Artery Disease cannot be reversed, but with an improved lifestyle and treatment from ones doctors the spreading of it can be reduced significantly. It is important to look for symptoms early on and take action as soon as possible.
Citations:
https://www.cdc.gov/heart-disease/about/coronary-artery-disease.html Assessed and Endorsed by the MedReport Medical Review Board
