Coronary Artery Disease: Symptom and Causes

Symptoms

The most common symptom of coronary artery disease is angina, or chest pain. Angina can be described as a discomfort and a burning feeling in the chest. This pain often spreads to the neck, jaw, arms, shoulders, throat, back, or even the teeth.
Other symptoms of coronary artery disease include
  • Difficulty breathing or Shortness of breath  
  • Palpitations (irregular heartbeat)
  • A faster heartbeat
  • Weakness or dizziness
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Sweating
  • Coughing
  • Restlessness
  • Indigestion or heartburn
  • Sleep problems, fatigue (tiredness), or lack of energy 
The severity of these symptoms varies. They may get more severe as the buildup of plaque continues to narrow the coronary arteries.
CAD symptoms image
Some people who have CHD have no signs or symptoms a condition called silent CHD. The disease might not be diagnosed until a person has signs or symptoms of a heart attack, heart failure, or an arrhythmia (an irregular heartbeat).
 

Causes

Coronary artery disease starts with injury or damage to the inner layer of a coronary artery. This occurs due to various factors like
  • Age – as people age their risk of developing coronary artery disease
  • Sex – males are at greater risk of developing coronary artery disease
  • Genetics
  • Smoking
  • Uncontrolled hypertension (high blood pressure)
  • High blood cholesterol
  • Both types of diabetes are linked to a higher risk of developing coronary heart disease, especially Diabetes Type II, which is often caused by obesity.
  • Obesity
  • Lack of exercise or physical inactivity
  • Diet – eating processed meat and certain other foods like trans fats and fast foods if eaten regularly and in large quantities can increase the risk of  the disease
  • Emotional/mental stress

CAD Cause






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