Coronary artery disease is the buildup of plaque in the arteries that supply oxygen-rich blood to your heart. The disease may result from genetic predisposition, age, gender, blood pressure, cholesterol or triglyceride levels, or heredity. It can also result from poor diet, sedentary lifestyle or high blood cholesterol levels. Treatment includes medications that attack your risk factors or possible surgery. In the condition, the heart does not receive enough oxygen, nutrients, or blood to function properly.
Coronary artery disease can cause sudden death, sometimes without warning, from heart attack. This disease occurs more often in people who smoke and have high blood pressure. Coronary artery disease can affect any age group and in men, it usually begins after the age of 45. It accounts for more than 25 percent of all fatal heart attacks and strokes in the United States. According to the study ‘Divergent trends in ischemic heart disease and stroke mortality in India from 2000 to 2015: a nationally representative mortality study’, published in the journal Lancet in August 2018, heart ailments caused more than 2.1 million deaths in India in 2015 at all ages. Moreover, 0.9 million deaths were caused by coronary heart disease and 0.4 million by stroke.
“According To Coherent Market Insights, North America is expected to hold dominant position in global coronary artery disease therapeutics market due to high prevalence of coronary artery disease. According to a survey conducted by Centers for disease control and prevention (CDC), in 2015, coronary heart disease kills more than 370,000 people annually in the U.S. out of which more than 92% had chest pain as a major symptom.” For More Insights (at) https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/
Some common symptoms of coronary artery disease include chest pain, swelling, dizziness, fainting, nausea, palpitations, sweating and shortness of breath. Chest pain may be sharp, sudden, intermittent, chronic or acute. Sweating, dizziness and shortness breath often occur along with the chest pain. Most people experience some or all of these symptoms at least once in their lifetime.
Blood tests can help determine if coronary artery disease is present or not. A range of tests including electrocardiogram, barium swallow, computerized tomography scan, ultrasound and angiography are used. Depending upon the severity of your symptoms, your doctor will then determine the best treatment plan and management for you. Treatment can range from lifestyle changes to medical treatment depending on your individual needs.
There are several coronary artery disease therapeutics available. In most cases, once you experience the symptoms of coronary artery disease, you will need to make lifestyle changes. You will be prescribed medications that help thin your blood, called anti-hypertensive drugs. You may also be given medications that prevent the buildup of plaques in the arteries, or ACE inhibitors. There are also lifestyle changes that can help reduce the buildup of fat in your arteries and strengthen your heart.
Heparin, also known as unfractionated heparin (UFH), is a medication that acts as an anticoagulant in the treatment of coronary artery disease. This naturally occurring glycosaminoglycan can also be used for the treatment of atrial fibrillation acute coronary syndrome, and venous thromboembolism. The role of heparin in the treatment of coronary artery disease remains unclear. The addition of unfractionated heparin infusion helps reduce cardiac events during the treatment period, but is not associated with any sustained benefits during long-term follow-up.
Beta-blockers can also be effective in reducing mortality when used in the long-term management of acute decompensated heart failure. Beta blockers work by blocking the effects of the hormone epinephrine, also known as adrenaline. The most commonly prescribed beta-blockers are metoprolol succinate and metoprolol tartrate.
Metoprolol Succinate impacts the heart and circulation (blood flow through arteries and veins). Metoprolol is also used in combination with other drugs for the treatment of heart failure. Metoprolol is used individually or with other drugs for the treatment of high blood pressure (hypertension). Metoprolol tartrate is used when immediate action of metoprolol is required, whereas metoprolol succinate is used when extended-release of metoprolol is required.
These therapeutics are effective for patients with mild decompensation without hypotension or evidence of hypoperfusion. Use of metoprolol tartrate and metoprolol succinate can lead to dizziness, tired feeling, depression, confusion, memory problems; nightmares, trouble sleeping; diarrhea; or mild itching or rash.
Coronary artery disease therapeutics can also range from lifestyle changes to medical interventions to surgery. Coronary heart medications include a variety of classes of drugs including Cholesterol-modifying medications, aspirin, calcium channel blockers, Ranolazine, Nitroglycerin, and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor blockers.
Cholesterol-modifying drugs reduce the primary material that deposits on the coronary arteries. High blood pressure is also known to be a risk factor for this disease. Use of drugs can lead to some side effects such as headache, dizziness, stuffy nose, back and leg pain, diarrhea, high potassium levels in the blood, which can cause heart rhythm problems, and swelling due to fluid buildup under the skin.
Surgery is also an important part of coronary artery disease therapeutics. Surgery can help to remove plaques buildup in your arteries and improve blood flow. There are different types of surgery including coronary artery bypass, angioplasty or balloon angioplasty. Surgery can help to prevent the development of blood clots and shorten the duration of hospitalization.
A coronary artery bypass graft can be used as a surgical option for the treatment of coronary artery disease. If you’re at risk for coronary artery disease, it’s especially important to take preventative measures by avoiding smoking, losing weight, reducing your alcohol intake, and reducing your consumption of foods and drugs that have been proven to contribute to coronary artery disease.
Several studies have reported that COVID-19 can cause cardiovascular disorders, including myocardial injury, arrhythmias, acute coronary syndrome and venous thromboembolism. The novel coronavirus can cause acute myocardial injury and chronic damage to the cardiovascular system. Accordingly, CAD is a prevalent condition among patients with COVID-19, varying between 2.5% and 10% of cases, according to The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s data published in 2024.
Changing your lifestyle may help you live longer, but if you already have coronary artery disease therapeutics can help ease the side effects and provide comfort in knowing you are taking steps to reduce the risk of serious complications. Lifestyle changes are an important part of treatment for coronary heart disease. These include losing weight, quitting smoking and avoiding alcohol.
You can also expect to reduce your cholesterol level by including more healthy fats, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated oils in your diet and including foods that are low in saturated fat, salt and sugar. You will also need to increase your intake of fiber and fluids.
Smoking and excessive alcohol consumption are major coronary heart disease risk factors. They can slow down your blood flow and increase plaque buildup in your arteries. Frequent use of tobacco products can lead to a build-up of fatty deposits in your arteries. Consuming alcohol may lead to a build-up of cholesterol in your arteries which can cause atherosclerosis or heart attack. If you are heavy or drinking alcohol regularly, it is important to stop.