| Coronary artery disease symptoms are caused by a | | | | Much of how coronary artery disease symptoms are |
| reduction in blood and oxygen flow to the heart | | | | treated has to do with the severity and extent of |
| caused by plaque deposits inside the coronary | | | | the coronary blockage. If severe, surgery may be |
| arteries. The plaque deposits are made up of primary | | | | required to widen or bypass the clogged arteries. A |
| cholesterol, along with fibrous tissue, dead cells, and | | | | stent may also be implanted to keep the artery open |
| calcium which deprive the heart muscle of blood and | | | | and the blood and oxygen flowing freely. |
| oxygen producing the most common of the coronary | | | | In less severe cases lifestyle changes often times |
| artery disease symptoms; angina. | | | | are enough to reverse the condition. |
| Angina could be described as chest pain that tends to | | | | These would include: |
| come and go with variances in activity levels. It may | | | | *Following a heart healthy eating plan low in saturated |
| feel like pressure or squeezing pain in the chest. The | | | | fat, trans fat, and cholesterol. This would include lots |
| pain is often diffuse, and can be broad ranging | | | | of fruits and vegetables, along with soluble fiber |
| including pain in the shoulders, back, jaw (often seen | | | | foods (oat meal, oat bran, whole grains), two |
| in women), and neck. Anxiety or emotional stress | | | | servings of cold water fatty fish weekly, and keeping |
| also can trigger an angina attack. | | | | meat portions both lean and under four ounces per |
| Perhaps the second most common of the coronary | | | | meal. |
| artery symptoms is shortness of breath. This | | | | *A doctor approved exercise plan to keep the heart |
| symptom most often occurs when coronary artery | | | | strong, reduce LDL (bad) cholesterol, and raise HDL |
| disease has caused heart failure. Heart failure is not | | | | (good) cholesterol. |
| actually total failure of the heart, rather the heart | | | | *Quitting smoking if you smoke, and avoiding |
| muscles inability to supply the body with enough | | | | exposure to secondhand smoke. |
| blood and oxygen to maintain optimal body function. | | | | *Implementing a weight management program. This is |
| When heart failure is involved edema is almost sure | | | | especially important if body fat is concentrated |
| to follow. Edema is a buildup of fluid around the | | | | around the waistline. |
| ankles and in the lungs due to lack of oxygen and | | | | *Implementing self help methods to reduce stress |
| blood flow to the major filtering organs (kidneys, | | | | such as yoga, aromatherapy, music therapy, and |
| liver). | | | | diaphragm breathing. |
| Lastly, some people have no symptoms at all, with is | | | | *Implementing a natural cholesterol reduction |
| referred to as silent CAD. This can be quite serious | | | | supplement or prescription cholesterol medication if |
| with symptoms only appearing after a heart attack | | | | needed. |
| or a heart arrhythmia has occurred. | | | | |