The most frequent kind of cardiac illness is coronary artery disease (CAD). Although it is the leading cause of mortality in the United States, much may be done to avoid or treat it.

The problem begins when a waxy material known as plaque accumulates inside the arteries that provide blood to the heart muscle. It might take decades for blood flow to be blocked, yet it can eventually lead to a heart attack or failure.

Treatment Of CAD

Depending on the type of your case, your treatment plan may include the following:

Lifestyle changes:

These best practices sound familiar, but they actually work.

• Choose foods low in trans fat, saturated fat, simple sugars, and sodium
• If you have a habit of smoking, quit it immediately.
• Get active for at least 30 minutes each day, ideally (if you're limited in what you can do, talk to your doctor first)
• Work on maintaining a healthy weight.
• Learn effective ways to manage stress.

Medications:

If these lifestyle changes aren't enough, you may need to take medications to make your heart healthier. These may include anticoagulants, ACE inhibitors, beta-blockers, nitroglycerin, calcium channel blockers, certain immunosuppressants, statins, or PCSK9.

Angioplasty:

This procedure allows a blocked or narrowed artery to be opened without opening the chest. In angioplasty, a doctor inserts a thin, flexible tube with a balloon into a blood vessel until it reaches the blocked artery. Doctors then inflate the balloon to widen the artery and allow more blood to flow through it. A small tube called a stent is also often inserted to keep the blood vessel open. You are usually admitted and discharged within one day.

Coronary artery bypass grafting:

Coronary artery bypass surgery is a type of surgery in which doctors use blood vessels in other parts of the body to bypass blocked coronary arteries. This is a major operation and may require hospitalization for at least 5 days.

Prevention of CAD

Luckily, there are a few things you can do to reduce your CAD conditions.

Understand your own risks: Ask your doctor about testing your cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood sugar levels. If you have high cholesterol, high blood pressure, or diabetes, it is important to treat these conditions.

Aim for a healthy weight: If you are unsure of your target weight, talk to your doctor. Also, remember that if you need to lose a lot of weight, even moderate weight loss works.

Avoid cigarette smoke: If you smoke, quit. Avoid passive smoking.

Limit alcohol: A drink or two may be good for your heart, but too much can be dangerous. Men should limit themselves to two alcoholic beverages, and women should limit themselves to one drink per day.

Eat smart: Eat whole foods and avoid trans fats, which are found in many baked, fried, and processed foods. Get plenty of high-fibre foods such as fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and beans. Limit salt intake and eat two servings per week of oily fish such as salmon, tuna, and mackerel. Rich in heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids.

If you are seeking treatment for coronary artery disease in and around Hillsboro, Texas. Visit Hill Regional Hospital for quality treatment, call us now.