What is Coronary Artery Disease?

Coronary artery disease or coronary heart disease occurs when the blood supply from your heart is blocked or interrupted due to the build-up of fatty substances in your coronary arteries. Fatty deposits can build-up over time due to lifestyle factors such as smoking and regularly drinking excessive amounts of alcohol. Conditions such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure or diabetes can also increase the risk of a build-up of fatty substances.

What Are The Symptoms of Coronary Artery Disease?

The most common symptoms are the following due to either angina or during an onset heart attack.

  Pain or discomfort in the arms, left shoulder, back, neck, jaw, or stomach.

  Difficulty in breathing or shortness of breath.

  Fullness, indigestion, or feeling of heartburn.

  Sweating or Cold sweat.

  Nausea or vomiting.

  Light-headedness, dizziness, extreme weakness or anxiety.

  Rapid or irregular heartbeats.

How Can You Get Your Coronary Artery Disease Tested?

If the healthcare specialists at Springfield Medical Clinic. believe that you may be at risk of coronary artery disease, they may carry out various tests and assessments. These may include blood tests to assess your cholesterol level, or other tests such as an electrocardiogram (ECG), exercise stress tests, X-ray, echocardiogram, etc.