Coronary Artery Disease Specialist

What is coronary artery disease?

Coronary artery disease or coronary heart disease happens when the major blood vessels that supply your heart with blood, oxygen, and nutrients become damaged or diseased. 

Inflammation and cholesterol deposits (plaque) can accumulate in your arteries. This narrows your arteries and can reduce blood flow to your heart. 

Reduced blood flow can cause chest pain (angina), shortness of breath, and other concerning symptoms. A heart attack happens when the inflammation and plaque block the arteries completely.

What are the symptoms of coronary artery disease?

As plaque continues to build up in your coronary arteries, you might have certain signs and symptoms like shortness of breath or chest pain (angina). 

A heart attack or an artery blockage stops the blood flow to your heart muscle, damaging it. Symptoms of a heart attack include a severe crushing pressure in your chest along with pain in your shoulder or arm that’s often accompanied by shortness of breath and sweating.

What causes coronary artery disease?

It isn’t always clear what causes coronary artery disease and several things can play a role, including: 

• Poor nutrition
• Excessive alcohol consumption
• Diabetes or insulin resistance
• Sedentary lifestyle
• Aging
• Smoking
• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• High stress
• Family history
• Obesity

If you have an autoimmune disease like ankylosing spondylitis, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, or another inflammatory rheumatologic condition, you have an increased risk of developing coronary artery disease.

How is coronary artery disease treated?

Following comprehensive testing, Dr. Dubroff creates a personal treatment plan. In addition to medication and other customized medical interventions, Dr. Dubroff educates you on how to live a healthier life and offers valuable nutritional counseling, advice on stress management, and exercise guidance. 

Dr. Dubroff assists you in managing any conditions that contribute to coronary artery disease like diabetes, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure. 

As well as working with you to make necessary lifestyle modifications, Dr. Dubroff can also prescribe medications like cholesterol-modifying drugs, beta-blockers, and calcium channel blockers.

Dr. Dubroff will suggest that you stay physically active, reduce and manage your stress, and quit smoking.

In some cases, certain procedures like angioplasty or the placement of a stent will be necessary to restore your blood flow. Dr. Dubroff uses all other options before recommending surgery to treat any heart conditions. Minimally invasive procedures are available. Your preferences, comfort, health, safety, and concerns are always the first priority.

If you have questions about coronary artery disease, call Brighton Beach Medical Group