Beta-blockers cause tiredness and sexual problems in some patients. Nitrates may cause a flush (redness in the face) and headaches. Your doctor will tell you whether you should take any of these medicines. Statins reduce the LDL (“bad”) cholesterol level in your blood. ACE (angiotensin-converting enzyme) inhibitors help lower blood pressure and reduce the workload on the heart. Taking low-dose aspirin daily can reduce the chance of a second heart attack in people who have already had one. Medicines called beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, and nitrates can help relieve angina, as well. Most people who have coronary artery disease take medicine to help control their condition. You need to keep up the healthy lifestyle changes you started to help the medicine work. For example, if your cholesterol level hasn’t improved after you’ve made changes for a few months, your doctor may prescribe medicine to lower your cholesterol. Your body will need time to respond to the changes you make. Diet and lifestyle changes will lower your risk of coronary artery disease.
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Talk to your family doctor about how to improve your diet. There is no clear evidence that taking multivitamins offers additional protection. The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) recommends against taking vitamin E or beta-carotene supplements for the prevention of cardiovascular disease. For example, foods that are rich in vitamin E and beta-carotene are healthy and help reduce cardiovascular risk. A healthy diet will provide all the vitamins and minerals your body needs. However, it does have some health side effects. Talk to your doctor about the pros and cons of daily low-dose aspirin.Regular exercise can make your heart stronger and reduce your risk of heart disease.If you have questions, talk to your doctor about how to make heart-healthy changes to your diet. The Mediterranean Diet is very good for heart health. Try to avoid processed foods, white flour, sugars, and high fructose corn syrup. Choose fruits, vegetables, meats, fish, and whole grains. Take your blood pressure medicine and follow a diet that helps lower your blood pressure. Nicotine raises your blood pressure, which contributes to coronary artery disease. However, you can reduce your risks for getting the disease by: This test is generally painless.Ĭan coronary artery disease be prevented or avoided?Ĭoronary artery disease can’t be completely prevented or avoided. This helps the doctor see your blood flow through your heart and blood vessels. An X-ray is used to monitor the dye as it travels through your coronary arteries. The doctor will carefully move the tube to your coronary arteries, then inject a dye. During the test, a thin, flexible tube is inserted into a blood vessel in your arm, groin (upper thigh), or neck. You will get medicine before the test to make you sleepy. This procedure is normally done if other tests show you have coronary artery disease. These include testing certain fats, cholesterol, sugar, and proteins.Ĭardiac catherization and coronary angiogram. The lab can test for certain conditions that raise your risk of coronary artery disease. Your doctor will take a sample of your blood to send to the lab. The X-ray can detect signs of heart failure. This is an X-ray focused in the area of your heart. Also, it shows your heart chambers and valves. The picture will give doctors a look at the size and shape of your heart. It’s a test that uses sound waves to see a picture of your heart while it’s beating. Your heart’s response to the workout may suggest to the doctor that you have possible blockages and need further testing. If you are unable to exercise for medical reasons, the staff will administer medicine to raise your heart rate. The staff will also monitor you for shortness of breath or chest pain. These monitors can detect changes to your heart rate, rhythm, electrical activity, or blood pressure during the test. You will be connected to heart, blood pressure, and oxygen monitors during the test. During this test, you will be asked to exercise to give your heart a workout. The pads are held in place by a sticky substance. It involves putting electrodes (tiny pads attached to wires) on your chest. Also, it tests the strength and timing of your heart’s electrical signals. This is a painless, simple test that monitors your heart’s beat and rhythm. If you doctor suspects you have it, he or she may order one or more of the following tests. There is no single test that can diagnose coronary artery disease. He or she also will discuss your symptoms, family history, diet, activity level, and other medical conditions. Your doctor will perform a physical exam and listen to your heart. How is coronary artery disease diagnosed?