Coronary Artery Disease Specialist

What is coronary disease?

Coronary disease, also known as coronary artery disease, is a common type of heart disease. This condition results when the arteries that carry blood and nutrients to your heart become narrowed and hardened. In most cases, this artery damage is caused by a buildup of plaque which includes cholesterol, a waxy substance found naturally in your blood. 

A buildup of plaque inside the artery walls is referred to as atherosclerosis, which ultimately affects how blood circulates to your heart. With decreased blood flow, your heart muscles can’t get the oxygen and nutrients needed to stay healthy. 

Coronary artery disease increases your risk for chronic chest pain called angina. It also puts you at higher risk for:

• Heart attacks
• Heart failure
• Arrhythmias (irregular heartbeat)

These heart-related conditions raise your risk for long-term health complications and even premature death. 

What are the symptoms of coronary artery disease?

As plaque builds up, making your arteries narrower, you may experience more frequent symptoms of coronary artery disease like:

• Chest pain
• Shortness of breath
• Tightness in the chest, back, or neck

If atherosclerosis is left untreated, a heart attack is possible. For this reason, it’s important to have a medical evaluation for unexplained chest pain and other symptoms of coronary artery disease. 

How is coronary artery disease diagnosed?

The staff at Naples Heart Rhythm Specialists, P.A., discuss your recent symptoms and evaluate your personal and family medical history. We offer on-site diagnostic testing to evaluate your overall heart health and function. 

Depending on your symptoms, your provider may order tests like:

• Chest X-ray
• Stress tests
• Echocardiogram
• Electrocardiogram (EKG)

You may also need a cardiac catheterization, which requires the insertion of a thin, flexible tube into a blood vessel to deliver a contrast dye. Your cardiologist evaluates the blood flow through your coronary arteries and your heart’s chambers using special X-ray technology that shows the blood’s movement.

What treatments are available for coronary artery disease?

In many cases, medications are used to slow down the progression of your disease and prevent heart attacks and permanent heart damage. 

When you’re in advanced stages of coronary artery disease, you may need surgery to open blocked arteries and increase the efficiency of your blood flow into the heart. 

The Naples Heart Rhythm Specialists, P.A., customize your coronary artery disease treatment based on your needs and existing health. They carefully monitor your heart health over time to prevent long-term heart complications. 

If you have symptoms of coronary artery disease, schedule a comprehensive heart evaluation at Naples Heart Rhythm Specialists, P.A., by phone or use the online booking feature.