CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE IS THE MOST COMMON TYPE OF HEART DISEASE, AND THE LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH IN THE UNITED STATES FOR BOTH MEN AND WOMEN. THE TROUBLE? YOU MAY NOT KNOW YOU HAVE IT. JOINING US FOR MARTHA JEFFERSON HEALTHWISE TODAY IS CARDIOLOGIST DR. KENNETH STERNBERG WITH INFORMATION ON CORONARY HEART DISEASE AND THE MOST CURRENT TECHNIQUES FOR DIAGNOSING IT.

WHAT EXACTLY IS CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE?

YOUR CORONARY ARTERIES SUPPLY YOUR HEART WITH OXYGEN-RICH BLOOD. WITH CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE, PLAQUE BUILDS UP INSIDE THESE ARTERIES AND REDUCES BLOOD FLOW TO THE HEART. BLOOD CLOTS CAN ALSO FORM THAT PARTIALLY OR COMPLETELY BLOCK BLOOD FLOW. OVER TIME, CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE CAN WEAKEN THE HEART MUSCLE AND LEAD TO HEART FAILURE.

WHAT ARE THE RISK FACTORS?

AN UNHEALTHY BUILD-UP OF PLAQUE CAN BE CAUSED BY KS: AN UNHEALTHY BUILD-UP OF PLAQUE CAN BE CAUSED BY BD: CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE IS THE MOST COMMON TYPE OF HEART DISEASE, AND THE LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH IN THE UNITED STATES FOR BOTH MEN AND WOMEN. THE TROUBLE? YOU MAY NOT KNOW YOU HAVE IT. JOINING US FOR MARTHA JEFFERSON HEALTHWISE TODAY IS CARDIOLOGIST DR. KENNETH STERNBERG WITH INFORMATION ON CORONARY HEART DISEASE AND THE MOST CURRENT TECHNIQUES FOR DIAGNOSING IT.

STATISTICS SHOW THAT MANY AMERICANS DON'T KNOW THEY HAVE DANGEROUS PLAQUE BUILD-UP IN THEIR ARTERIES. WHAT TESTING OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE?

E-K-G & CAT SCANS

HOW CAN PEOPLE STAY HEALTHY AND AVOID CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE?

LIFESTYLE CHANGES SUCH AS QUITTING SMOKING AND LOSING WEIGHT ARE A GREAT FIRST DEFENSE AGAINST CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE. CERTAIN MEDICINES AND MEDICAL PROCEDURES CAN EFFECTIVELY PREVENT OR TREAT CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE IN MANY PEOPLE AS WELL. KNOWING YOUR FAMILY HISTORY OF HEART PROBLEMS IS ALSO IMPORTANT. IF YOU OR SOMEONE IN YOUR FAMILY HAS CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE, BE SURE TO TELL YOUR DOCTOR.