Coronary Artery Disease
Coronary artery disease means narrowing of the coronary arteries (arteries that supply blood to the heart). This narrowing is due to a buildup in the walls of the arteries of plaque (deposits made up of cholesterol, other fats, and calcium)—a process called atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries). If a plaque becomes delicate and breaks, a blood clot will quickly form that can block blood flow in the artery and may lead to a myocardial infarction (death of the heart muscle area supplied by the blocked artery), often referred to as a heart attack.
Coronary artery disease can develop slowly without any symptoms.
Angina—chest pain that can radiate to (or sometimes is limited to) the shoulders, arms, or jaw. Angina usually lasts several minutes and may be related to activity, exercise, large meals, cold, or stress. If angina lasts more than 15 minutes, there is a risk that a heart attack may be occurring.
Heart attack symptoms include severe chest pain, shortness of breath, sweating, and nausea. Symptoms can be different in men and women, with women more likely to experience unusual fatigue after activity rather than chest pain.
If you or anyone you know experiences heart attack symptoms, call immediately for emergency medical evaluation.
Several tests can be performed in an emergency department to determine if a heart attack is occurring. Blood tests can detect certain substances in the blood that are released during a heart attack. An electrocardiogram (ECG, EKG) can reveal heart attacks and heart rhythm problems.
Nitrate medication (such as nitroglycerin) can be taken to help stop angina attacks.
Blood—thinning drugs, such as aspirin, can help reduce the risk of blood clots.
Statins (a kind of cholesterol-lowering drug) and beta-blockers (a kind of blood pressure—lowering drug) can prevent heart attacks and premature deaths.
Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI)—a thin balloon is threaded into the blocked artery and inflated, pressing the plaque and widening the artery to increase blood flow; a stent (a small flexible tube) is then placed in the artery to keep it open.
Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery—uses a vein from another part of the body to bypass a severely blocked coronary artery.
American Heart Association
800/AHA-USA-1 (242-8721)
http://www.americanheart.org
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
301/592-8573
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov
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Sharon Parmet, MS, Writer; Tiffany J. Glass, MA, Illustrator; Richard M. Glass, MD, Editor
JAMA. 2004;292(20):2540. doi:10.1001/jama.292.20.2540.
JAMA. 2004;292(20):2540. doi:10.1001/jama.292.20.2540.
Coronary artery disease means narrowing of the coronary arteries (arteries that supply blood to the heart). This narrowing is due to a buildup in the walls of the arteries of plaque (deposits made up of cholesterol, other fats, and calcium)—a process called atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries). If a plaque becomes delicate and breaks, a blood clot will quickly form that can block blood flow in the artery and may lead to a myocardial infarction (death of the heart muscle area supplied by the blocked artery), often referred to as a heart attack.
SYMPTOMS
If you or anyone you know experiences heart attack symptoms, call immediately for emergency medical evaluation.
DIAGNOSIS
Several tests can be performed in an emergency department to determine if a heart attack is occurring. Blood tests can detect certain substances in the blood that are released during a heart attack. An electrocardiogram (ECG, EKG) can reveal heart attacks and heart rhythm problems.
TREATMENT
FOR MORE INFORMATION
http://www.americanheart.org
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov
<< Back to article index...
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PEMBROKE PINES - 17890 NW 2 St., Pembroke Pines, FL 33029. Telephone (954) 442-6090, FAX (954) 442-0070
Email: Info@luislugomd.com
DON'T WASTE TIME HOLDING ON THE TELEPHONE. Do you need to make a reservation? Check on a Referral? Request a Prescription Refill? Request Medical Records? No need to call the office. Get help fast by logging on to our PATIENT PORTAL. Ask us about WEB ENABLE on your next Office Visit. All of your Health Needs are right at your fingertips. You can even access your Health Information SECURLY from your Mobile Phone or Tablet. Download the free Mobile App Today. DOWNLOAD THE FREE HEALOW MOBILE APP BY CLICKING HERE, then find us by using our unique practice code. GGAHBA. To use the Patient Portal, please call the office and ask to be Web Enabled. You will need a valid Email Address to receive instructions on the Patient Portal. New Patients may also join us by clicking on the Patient Portal Link at the top of this page then click the Pre Registration Button. Note. Pre Registration is only for new Patients. Regular patients need to be Web Enabled. Call and ask us how to get access.