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Coronary artery disease

Description

An in-depth report on the causes, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of CAD.

Alternative Names

Angina; Atherosclerosis; Heart disease

Managing Heart Disease

The approach for managing any degree of coronary artery disease involves lifestyle changes. Depending on severity and individual conditions, patients may need one or more medications, surgery, or both.

Experts have come up with a mnemonic device (ABCDE) for remembering 10 factors that are fundamental for management of stable angina and coronary artery disease:

A. Aspirin and anti-angina drugs.

B. Blood pressure and beta-blockers.

C. Cholesterol-lowering drugs (typically statins) and cigarettes (stopping).

D. Diet and diabetes control.

E. Exercise and education.

Unstable angina is now usually classified with non-Q myocardial infarction as acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in professional discussions of treatments. ACS usually requires more aggressive treatments, including surgery. [ACS is more fully discussed in In-Depth Report #12: Heart attack and acute coronary syndrome.]

• Review Date: 4/12/2006
• Reviewed By: Harvey Simon, M.D., Editor-in-Chief, Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Physician, Massachusetts General Hospital

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