Coronary Artery Disease Specialist

What is coronary artery disease?

Coronary artery disease (CAD) develops in the arteries that deliver blood rich with oxygen and nutrients to your heart. CAD is a result of atherosclerosis, a common condition in which a sticky substance called plaque attaches itself to the inner walls of your arteries.

Plaque consists of fatty cholesterol and debris like calcium from your blood. As the layers of plaque form, your arteries gradually get narrower, increasing blood flow restriction. Complete blockages can occur, or a blood clot can form when a lump of plaque breaks away, leading to a heart attack.  

How is coronary artery disease diagnosed?

Depending on what your provider finds during your cardiology consultation, they might want you to have a non-invasive diagnostic test, which could include:

• Electrocardiogram (EKG)
• Echocardiogram
• Doppler ultrasound
• Stress testing
• Electrophysiology

These tests show your provider at Pinnacle Healthcare System how your blood is flowing, the way your heart is beating, how well it's pumping, and the electrical activity in your heart.

What treatments might I need for coronary artery disease?

If you have coronary artery disease, it's vital to look at the steps you can take yourself, as some of the leading causes of CAD relate to your lifestyle. You can prevent plaque buildup by:

• Changing to a heart-healthy diet
• Getting more exercise
• Losing weight
• Stopping smoking
• Reducing alcohol intake
• Tackling chronic stress

As high cholesterol is the primary cause of coronary artery disease, managing your cholesterol levels is vital. In addition to reducing the quantity of cholesterol in your diet, you might need to take statins — drugs that help lower your cholesterol levels.

You might need to take other medications, including beta-blockers and ACE inhibitors. These medicines reduce your heart rate and blood pressure, helping cut down your heart's oxygen requirements.

Would I need invasive treatments for coronary artery disease?

If your condition is too serious or doesn't improve using conservative measures, Pinnacle Healthcare System can perform balloon angioplasty — a minimally invasive cardiac catheterization procedure.

To carry out balloon angioplasty, your provider feeds a tiny tube (catheter) into the diseased artery and inflates a special balloon. The balloon squashes the plaque, making space for your blood to flow more freely. They may also fit a coronary stent — a small mesh tube — into the artery to keep it open.

If your condition is severe, you might need to undergo coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. The team at Pinnacle Healthcare System attaches a new artery to take over from the diseased section.

For prompt and effective treatment of coronary artery disease, call Pinnacle Healthcare System or book an appointment online today.