Late Effects of Coronary Artery Disease

Coronary artery disease rarely displays symptoms until it has become advanced. Early or late, the effects are significant. If left untreated, it likely will lead to heart attack and death.

Identification

• Coronary artery disease (CAD) is established when blood vessels making their way to the heart become hardened and blocked with a collection of fatty deposits called plaque. These deposits are comprised mostly of cholesterol and calcium.

Significance

• Atherosclerosis is the medical term for this "hardening of the arteries." CAD is the most common form of heart disease and the leading cause of death across the globe.

Effects

• Late effects of coronary artery disease include angina, which is a sharp pain in the chest, jaw, neck or shoulders indicating a lack of oxygen to the heart. Should the artery become permanently blocked, a heart attack will occur.

Solution

• If medications and a healthier lifestyle fail to treat CAD, the late effects of coronary artery disease will include the need to undergo surgical procedures designed to clear away plaque buildup and clear the arteries.

Treatment

• "Treatment for coronary artery disease may include coronary artery bypass surgery, or coronary balloon angioplasty," according to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. Stents, which are tiny tubes that prop open blocked arteries, may also be utilized.