When I was first diagnosed with coronary artery disease (CAD), I decided to do some research. Even though there is a history of heart issues on my dad's side of the family, I knew very little about it. One of the first things I learned is that coronary artery disease goes by many names. If you've heard it referred to as coronary heart disease, atherosclerosis, hardening of the arteries, or just simply heart disease, it's probably the same thing.
Most of have heard that one of the main reasons to check your cholesterol is because it can lead to plaque buildup. One of the first things I learned was that not only is plaque bad, but it can't be reversed. Well, that was news to me. No wonder this is a big deal - and another silent killer (like the fatty liver issue many of you know led to Becky's transplant). Not only an often silent killer, but also, according to Cleveland Clinic, the complications of plaque buildup (including heart attacks and strokes) are the leading cause of death worldwide.
Here's the next thing I learned. Plaque builds up in arteries between the outer wall and the thinner inner wall. This thinner inner wall generally also becomes more stiff. Yep, "hardening" of the arteries. Well, not only is the reduced blood flow an issue, but the hardened arteries can also lead to rupturing of the thinner inner wall.
Fortunately, there are some signs of abnormal blood flow that can often be the indication of a potential larger problem. Some of the more obvious symptoms could be chest pain, shortness of breath, swelling in your legs, fatigue and dizziness/fainting. There are also some more subtle signs that might an indication of poor blood flow, perhaps caused by plaque buildup. These include things like a pounding or racing heart (palpitations), sweating, neck pain, heartburn or indigestion, nausea or vomiting, trouble sleeping, and exercise intolerance.
Now we get to the main event. When that thin inner wall of the artery ruptures, the body treats it like any other damaged blood vessel. It forms a clot to heal the rupture. When there has been enough plaque built up, the combination of the narrowed artery and the blood clot forming can cause a complete blockage of the artery, stopping blood flow to the heart (or any other area of the body where the same plaque buildup can occur).
Fortunately, even though we can't reduce the plaque, once we know it's a problem, there are things we can do depending on what stage of heart disease we're at. I started by getting a CT Heart Calcium Score. It probably took less than 5 minutes. It's not a complete diagnosis. It's an indicator. It's sort of like seeing blood tells you there's a cut/injury. You don't really know how bad it is until you take a closer look. My next tests are an echocardiogram and heart stress test. Until I get those results, I'm changing my diet and getting more exercise. I'm walking more and trying to avoid high cholesterol foods, replacing them with more fruits and veggies. My goal is stay healthy, prevent further plaque buildup, and avoid having to have a procedure like angioplasty, stent placement, or even bypass surgery.
I hope this information is helpful to whoever finds themselves on this blog.
Here are some links to websites I found to be informative:
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