How is CAD diagnosed?
A person with one or more coronary artery blockages may feel chest pain (angina pectoris), which is a kind of warning signal sent out by the heart to announce that something is wrong.
Periodic discomfort may be felt in the chest, radiating to the neck and/or arms (usually on the left side) with physical exertion, after eating, with changes in temperature, with extreme emotion, or even at rest. The symptoms may last 3 to 5 minutes if the cause is relieved; otherwise symptoms may last longer.
If this condition continues, it may lead to starvation of the heart muscle cells as a result of reduced blood flow due to a constricted or blocked artery (ischemia). This may cause cell damage, leading to an injury called a “myocardial infarction”, commonly known as a heart attack.
Certain factors may put a person at higher risk for CAD including weight, smoking, high cholesterol, and a family history of CAD. Tests such as an electrocardiogram or coronary arteriogram are used to help the physician diagnose the problem and decide on treatment.
