Coronary artery disease is a disease or damage in the heart’s major blood vessels that restricts the oxygen-rich blood flow to the heart. Cholesterol deposits called plaque narrow the coronary arteries over time. Focus on your food choices, correct your eating patterns and practise moderate exercise. Refrain from smoking and alcohol consumption.

Most people cannot recognize they have CAD in the early stage. Stable angina appears to be a classic sign of this chronic condition. This temporary chest pain occurs with physical activity or emotional stress. You might consider seeing the top cardiologist in Siliguri. Improving your lifestyle as guided helps a lot in healing.

Signs of CAD

Since CAD narrows the coronary arteries, the blood supply in your body gets interrupted. Signs of CAD tend to grow progressively. Symptoms of CAD include - a tightening sensation in your chest, the pressure felt in your chest, pain that takes place in the middle or left side of the chest, chest pain that travels up to the neck, back, or arm, shortness of breath, lightheadedness, fatigue, stomach discomfit, nausea, vomiting, weakness, heart palpitations, et al.

Seek medical assistance immediately on noticing such signs. Undiagnosed coronary artery disease can result in a heart attack. It’s a medical emergency, leading to signs like chest pain, chest pain that spreads to the left arm, down towards the waist, fatigue, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, feeling of indigestion, fatigue, sweating, anxiety, dizziness.

Complications of CAD

If coronary artery disease goes unnoticed or untreated, it may cause:

• Heart failure. It occurs when your heart muscle doesn’t pump enough blood that is required. Heart failure can happen suddenly or can be chronic. Symptoms you may develop with this medical condition involve shortness of breath, weakness, tiredness, abdominal swelling, irregular heartbeat, rapid heartbeat, lack of appetite, swelling of legs, ankles, and feet, nausea, persistent cough, wheezing, reduced alertness, rapid weight gain, etc.
• Arrhythmia. An arrhythmia is an irregular heartbeat marked by too fast or too slow heartbeats that can pinpoint certain health conditions. Here it can be a complication of uncontrolled coronary artery disease, causing shortness of breath, racing heartbeat, a fluttering in your chest, chest pain, anxiety, dizziness, fatigue, fainting, sweating, et al.
• Heart attack. Also called myocardial infarction, a heart attack is a result of a blockage of blood supply to the heart muscle. Tobacco use, alcohol consumption, high blood pressure, obesity, high cholesterol, diabetes, a high diet of salt, animal fats, processed foods, trans fats, family history, lack of physical activity, and rheumatoid arthritis may put you at risk of a heart attack.

Prevention of this chronic disease includes a heart-friendly diet, stress management, quality sleep, moderate workouts/yoga, quitting smoking, avoiding alcohol or any substance misuse, regulating body weight, and managing pre-existing health conditions (if you have any). See your doctor and get your diagnosis done under expert supervision.