Coronary Artery Disease Diagnosis & Treatment

Coronary artery disease (CAD) occurs when your coronary arteries become damaged or diseased due to fat and cholesterol buildup in your artery walls. Your coronary arteries supply blood to your heart, and when they become clogged with fat and cholesterol from your bloodstream, it sticks to the walls in your coronary arteries. This then makes it difficult for blood to flow freely through the arteries to your heart.

If the arteries become too narrow or blocked completely, your heart may not get the blood and oxygen it needs. As a result, you may experience chest pain or even a heart attack. Sometimes, a heart attack is the first sign that you even have coronary artery disease, and in many cases, it’s too late at that point to make lifestyle changes. So, it is important to be examined by a coronary artery disease doctor early.

For many individuals, a heart attack is the first sign of coronary artery disease. Symptoms of a heart attack include:

• chest pain or discomfort
• weakness
• lightheadedness
• nausea
• cold sweat
• pain or discomfort in the arms or shoulder
• shortness of breath

A heart attack is not always obvious and can be mistaken for less serous problems. If you experience any of the symptoms above, contact our St. Louis Coronary Artery Specialists to make an appointment as soon as possible.

To diagnose coronary disease, our coronary artery doctors may perform diagnostic testing that includes:

• A thorough physical exam and family medical history
• Blood tests to check for fats and cholesterol levels
• Electrocardiogram (EKG)
• Stress testing
• Coronary calcium scans

If you have a moderate risk for heart disease based on your health and family history, a coronary calcium scan provides vital information to your doctors before a serious or life-threatening situation occurs. A coronary calcium scan, or heart scan, is a specialized X-ray that shows images of your heart so the team of coronary artery doctors can detect and measure plaque in your arteries.

The heart scan indicates the amount of calcified plaque you have, which can help identify if you’re at risk of coronary artery disease before you experience any symptoms. Essentially, a coronary calcium scan may indicate a need for lifestyle modifications or medications to reduce your risk of a heart attack in the future.

Treatments for coronary artery disease often include committing to making healthier lifestyle choices to promote artery and heart health, including:

• Reducing stress
• Quitting smoking
• Losing weight
• Managing other health conditions
• Eating healthier foods
• Exercising regularly

The coronary artery disease doctors at St. Louis Heart and Vascular may also prescribe certain medications that can help lower your cholesterol and blood pressure and thin your blood.

If you have a family history of heart attacks or coronary diseases and you think you may be at risk of coronary artery disease, call one of the St. Louis Heart and Vascular offices to make an appointment with one of our Corinary Artery Specialists as soon as possible. It may save your life.