Coronary artery disease

When the coronary arteries narrow, the heart may not get enough blood. This happens when it needs it most, like when exercising. This can cause chest pain (angina) or shortness of breath.

A heart attack can happen when blood flow to the heart is blocked and the heart muscle does not get enough oxygen. Cholesterol build up in the heart blood vessels break off to cause this blockage. The lack of blood can damage the heart muscle. The amount of damage depends, in part, on how quickly you get treated.

Heart failure is when the heart doesn't pump blood as it should. Coronary artery disease (CAD) causes narrowing of the heart arteries (blood vessels) and/or high blood pressure. This can slowly weaken the heart and result in heart failure.

Not enough blood to the heart can alter normal heart signalling and cause irregular heartbeats.

Your care team may send you for a series of blood tests to help assess your heart condition.

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Heart ultrasound, also known as echocardiogram or echo, is used to diagnose heart disease by using sound waves to create images of the heart.

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An electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) is a test that checks how your heart is functioning by measuring the electrical activity in your heart. This recorded test determines if this electrical activity is normal or irregular.

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Cardiac stress tests help diagnose and manage heart conditions. They tell us how the heart functions during physical activity. There are different ways to administer this test, depending on your situation. Most of the time, we will monitor heart activity as patients exercise on a treadmill. Sometimes medication is used to simulate exercise.

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Cardiac CT, or Cardiac Computed Tomography provides detailed images of the heart and its blood vessels using X-rays and computer technology. Cardiac MRI, or Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging produces detailed images of the heart using powerful magnets and radio waves.

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An angiogram provides detailed images of the heart's blood vessels. It helps your care team look for the presence and location of any changes or abnormalities. It also helps assess the severity.

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Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) or Angioplasty with a stent is a medical procedure, not a surgery. During this procedure, a small balloon gently expands the artery. Sometimes, a special device called a "stent" is also used to keep the artery open.

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Patients with Coronary Artery Disease might need coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) (pronounced cabbage) surgery. It re-routes blood around blockages in the coronary arteries and restores blood flow to the heart.

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Nutrition is important in managing your CAD. If you require nutritional advice and education, please ask the team/health care provider.

To help with communicating with your health care team, we offer interpretation services 24-hours-a-day. Please ask your care team to place a request if you need an interpreter including a sign language interpreter.

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Pharmacists at Providence assist those staying in our two hospitals (inpatients) and those visiting our many clinics (outpatients). We collaborate with your healthcare team, using our knowledge to recommend the most suitable drug treatment for your condition. We also keep watch for possible negative reactions to medications, aiming to find the right balance between safety and effectiveness.

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We offer pastoral care services to support you and your loved ones. Our professional staff, including chaplains from different faiths, are here to accompany you, provide counselling, and create spaces for reflection, prayer, and meditation.

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We strive to offer you the best and most compassionate care possible. If we succeed, please let us know. If we fall short of our goal “How you want to be treated,” please also let us know.

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