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February 10, 2010
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Coronary Artery Disease
Screening Tests

What is coronary artery disease?

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is arteriosclerosis of the inner lining of the blood vessels that supply blood to the heart. CAD is a common form of heart disease and is a major cause of illness and death. CAD begins when hard cholesterol substances (plaques) are deposited within a coronary artery. (The coronary arteries arise from the aorta, which is adjacent to the heart.) The plaques can cause a tiny clot to form which can obstruct the flow of blood to the heart muscle. Symptoms of CAD include 1) chest pain (angina pectoris) from inadequate blood flow to the heart; 2) heart attack (acute myocardial infarction), from the sudden total blockage of a coronary artery; or 3) sudden death, due to a fatal rhythm disturbance.

Heart Attack illustration - Coronary Artery Disease Screening Tests

What is the purpose of screening tests for CAD?

In many patients, the first symptom of CAD is myocardial infarction or sudden death, with no preceding chest pain as a warning. For this reason, doctors perform screening tests to detect signs of CAD before serious medical events occur. Screening tests are of particular importance for patients with risk factors for CAD. These risk factors include a family history of CAD at relatively young ages, an abnormal serum cholesterol profile, cigarette smoking, elevated blood pressure (hypertension), and diabetes mellitus.

What are common initial screening tests for CAD?

Initial screening for CAD commonly involves stressing the heart under controlled conditions. These stress tests are able to detect the presence of flow-limiting blockages in the coronary arteries, generally in the range of at least a 50% reduction in the diameter of at least one of the three major coronary arteries. There are two basic types of stress tests; those that involve exercising the patient to stress the heart (exercise cardiac stress tests), and those that involve chemically stimulating the heart directly to mimic the stress of exercise (physiologic stress testing). Physiologic stress testing can be used for patients who are unable to exercise.



Next: Exercise Cardiac Stress Test (Treadmill Stress Test) »

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Coronary Artery Disease Screening Tests

The importance of physical activity

The evidence is growing and is more convincing than ever! People of all ages who are generally inactive can improve their health and well-being by becoming active at a moderate-intensity on a regular basis.

Regular physical activity substantially reduces the risk of dying of coronary heart disease, the nation's leading cause of death, and decreases the risk for stroke, colon cancer, diabetes, and high blood pressure. It also helps to control weight; contributes to healthy bones, muscles, and joints; reduces falls among older adults; helps to relieve the pain of arthritis; reduces symptoms of anxiety and depression; and is associated with fewer hospitalizations, physician visits, and medications. Moreover, physical activity need not be strenuous to be beneficial; people of all ages benefit from participating in regular, moderate-intensity physical activity, such as 30 minutes of brisk walking five or more...

Read the Fitness article »











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