Coronary Artery Disease - UHN - coronary artery disease agent orange

---

Form: D-5110
Coronary Artery Disease
The basics about coronary artery disease
Read this guide to learn more about:
? what coronary artery disease is
? the warning signs of angina and heart attacks
? risk factors for coronary artery disease
? treatments options
? the risks and complications of heart surgery
What is coronary artery disease?
Coronary artery disease happens when coronary arteries become narrowed.
Sometimes layers of fat, also known as plaque, build up on artery walls. This
is called atherosclerosis. When this happens, less blood flows through the
arteries.
Coronary arteries bring oxygen and nutrients to your heart muscle. If 75% of
your coronary artery is blocked, your heart muscle may not get enough. This
is called angina. This is a problem when your heart needs to work harder
(for example, when you exercise).
1
How will I find out if I have coronary artery disease?
Doctors use different tests to help find out if you have coronary artery
disease. These tests usually take place in a hospital.
Learn about all the tests by reading Chapter 3: Testing for Coronary Artery
Disease.
What increases my risk of having coronary artery disease?
These factors will increase your chances of having coronary artery disease:
? smoking
? high blood pressure
? high blood cholesterol (a type of fat in your blood)
? diabetes (high blood sugar)
? obesity (being overweight)
? stress
? family history
These are also called risk factors for coronary artery disease.
Why are risk factors important to know?
You can lower your chance of getting heart disease if you remove a risk
factor. For example, if you quit smoking, you can lower your risk of getting
heart disease.
If you already have heart disease, removing a risk factor will help slow it down.
Read Chapter 5: Daily Life Guidelines. There you will learn how to lower
your risk.
2


• Veteran Disability and Agent Orange - Montgomery County, …
• Coronary Artery Disease - Hopkins Medicine
• Coronary Artery Disease Handouts - ccme.
• BOARD OF VETERANS' APPEALS
• Coronary artery Disease - University of Ottawa …