Patient information Coronary artery disease
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Diagnostic procedure and state of the art treatment options
Coronary artery disease (CAD; also called coronary heart disease, CHD) is the most common form of heart disease in America and Europe and is a serious health problem worldwide. People with a history of high cholesterol, diabetes, smoking, high blood pressure, being overweight and a family history of CAD have an increased risk of developing atherosclerosis in the coronary arteries.
Within this information we would like to answer some of your questions on coronary artery disease (CAD), the diagnostic procedure and state of the art treatment options. It should also help you to make the right decision on the appropriate treatment in agreement with your physician.
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Background
- Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a condition where plaque builds up inside the coronary arteries which supplies the heart with oxygen-rich blood.
- Plaque narrows the arteries and reduces blood flow to the heart. It also makes it more likely that blood clots will form in the arteries.
- Plaque is made up of fat, cholesterol, calcium and other substances found in the blood. When plaque builds up in the arteries, the condition is called CAD.
- Over time, CAD can weaken the heart and lead to heart failure and arrhythmia. Heart failure is a condition in which the heart cannot pump enough blood throughout the body. Arrhythmia is related to irregularity of the speed or rhythm of the heartbeat.
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