Coronary Artery Disease for Brandon, Sun City Center, Sun City Center, Riverview, Riverview and EAST TAMPA, Tampa, FL | Bay Area Cardiology Associates PA | Cardiovascular Disease Specialists & Interventional Cardiology

Coronary Artery Disease

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a common cause of heart attacks and death. At the Bay Area Cardiology Associates PA offices in Brandon, Sun City Center, Riverview, and Tampa, Florida, the experienced cardiovascular specialists diagnose CAD. They effectively treat it to prevent you from suffering severe complications. Call your nearest Bay Area Cardiology Associates PA office today if you’re worried you might be at risk of coronary artery disease. You can also schedule a consultation using the online booking form.

Coronary Artery Disease Q & A

What is coronary artery disease?

Coronary artery disease (CAD) affects the blood supply to your heart. The arteries become narrower, so there’s less room for blood to flow. In some cases, the artery suffers a blockage. These problems prevent your heart from getting the oxygen it needs to function and can lead to heart failure or a heart attack.

CAD usually happens when you have atherosclerosis, a plaque buildup inside the artery walls. Plaque is mainly cholesterol with some waste products from your blood that form a sticky substance. As plaque collects on the artery walls leading to your heart, the blood vessels get progressively narrower.

What symptoms does coronary artery disease cause?

Coronary artery disease often takes many years to develop, and you might notice few if any symptoms during its early stages. As the arteries get narrower, you’ll start to experience symptoms of poor blood flow in your heart like:

Chest pain
Shortness of breath
Dizziness
Poor exercise tolerance
Chronic fatigue
Syncope (fainting)

Chest pain felt during physical activity that goes away when you rest (commonly called angina) is frequently a symptom of CAD.

If, in addition to feeling short of breath, you suffer from severe chest pain and feel nauseous or vomit, you could be having a heart attack. Should this happen, call 911 or get to your nearest hospital emergency room.

You might need to undergo tests like an electrocardiogram (EKG), echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart), stress test, or angiography (heart X-ray).

How is coronary artery disease treated?

Treating CAD varies depending on how advanced the condition is. Most patients benefit from making changes in their lives, like cutting down on saturated and trans fats to reduce cholesterol.

Other actions you can take include exercising regularly, stopping smoking, and losing weight. Stress management also helps.

Some patients might need to take medications for CAD. Examples include angiotensin-converting-enzyme (ACE) inhibitors to lower blood pressure, anticoagulants to stop your blood from clotting too easily, and drugs like statins to reduce your cholesterol.

What advanced coronary artery disease treatments might I need?

More advanced coronary artery disease might require cardiac catheterization. In this minimally invasive alternative to surgery, your Bay Area Cardiology Associates PA provider feeds a catheter (a long, slim tube) into a large artery, usually in your groin. The catheter is inserted all the way into your heart.

Your provider can then inflate a tiny balloon to flatten the plaque (balloon angioplasty) and can also insert a stent (a metal mesh tube) to hold the artery open. Another approach is atherectomy, where your provider uses a surgical tool to remove the plaque.

If you’ve been experiencing symptoms that could relate to coronary artery disease, call Bay Area Cardiology Associates PA today or book an appointment online.

Our Services / Coronary Artery Disease

Cardiovascular Disease Specialist & Interventional Cardiology in Brandon, Sun City Center, Sun City Center, Riverview, Riverview and EAST TAMPA, Tampa, FL