What you need to know about Coronary Artery Disease
People with coronary artery disease (CAD) or coronary heart disease are at risk for having a heart attack because the arteries that supply blood to the heart are clogged with fatty deposits.
A heart attack occurs when blood is cut off to the heart.
Warning Signs of CAD
The Lakewood ASC cardiologists want patients to know the warning signs of CAD and encourage them to see a specialist if they experience any of them:
- Pain, pressure, or discomfort in the center of the chest.
- Pain, tingling, or discomfort in other parts of the upper body, including arms, back, neck, jaw, or stomach.
- Feeling short of breath or becoming easily fatigued.
However, some patients may show no symptoms of CAD until they have a heart attack. That is why it is important to seek medical attention if you experience heart attack symptoms which may include:
- Pain pressure or discomfort in the center or the chest or in other parts of the upper body
- Shortness of breath
- Sweating or having cold, clammy skin.
- Nausea, vomiting or heartburn
- Feeling dizzy or lightheaded
- A racing or uneven heartbeat
Other ways to identify CAD
If you experience symptoms of CAD or know you have a family history for heart disease, your Lakewood ASC cardiologists, located in the Outpatient Surgery Center in Wildwood, Florida have ways to diagnose it:
- An Electrocardiogram or ECG measures the activity in the heart. It involves small electrode patches which are placed on a patient’s body. The test does not hurt at all.
- A stress test, which involves walking or running on a treadmill while you have an ECG, helps doctors see if the heart is getting enough blood while exercising.
- Specialists may order an echocardiogram which uses sound waves to create an image of the heart while it’s beating.
- A cardiac catheterization is a procedure where the doctor puts a thin tube into a blood vessel in a patient’s arm or leg. The tube is then fed up to the heart where the doctor can see if any arteries are clogged.
The main ways to treat CAD are lifestyle changes and medication. In more serious cases, a stent may be inserted or the patient may need bypass surgery.
If a patient is diagnosed with coronary artery disease, the Lakewood ASC medical team, serving The Villages, Leesburg, Wildwood and areas throughout Lake County, Sumter County and Marion County, have many resources to help patients identify the best treatment options.
