Exploring Novel Treatments for Coronary Disease: What Patients Need to Know

Novel Coronary Disease Treatments: What You Need to Know

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a common and serious condition affecting the heart’s ability to receive enough blood due to narrowed arteries. This condition greatly impacts quality of life, especially for older adults and those with additional risk factors like high blood pressure or high cholesterol.

Certain treatments and lifestyle changes have been the mainstays of cardiac care for decades, but as medical science advances, new solutions are emerging. Whether you’re newly diagnosed or caring for someone with CAD, it’s helpful to keep up with novel coronary disease treatments.

What is Coronary Artery Disease?

Coronary artery disease occurs when the coronary arteries, which supply blood to the heart, become damaged or narrowed. This narrowing occurs over time due to plaque buildup in the arteries. This process, called atherosclerosis, causes a lack of oxygen to the heart muscles.

Some common symptoms of CAD include:

• Chest pain (angina)
• Shortness of breath
• Fatigue with exertion
• Pain in the arm, shoulder, or jaw

If left untreated, CAD may cause heart attacks, heart failure, or other complications. Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial to prevent these outcomes.

How is Coronary Artery Disease Diagnosed?

Doctors use several diagnostic tests to identify coronary artery disease, depending on a patient’s symptoms and risk factors. Here are some of the most common methods:

• An electrocardiogram (EKG) records the heart’s electrical activity and can detect areas of the heart that aren’t getting enough oxygen.
• A stress test measures how the heart performs under physical exertion, often revealing blockages that aren’t apparent at rest.
• A coronary angiogram is a specialized X-ray technique that uses dye injected into the bloodstream to visualize blockages in the arteries.
• CT angiography is a non-invasive imaging test that provides detailed pictures of the arteries to detect plaque buildup.
• Blood tests assess cholesterol levels, blood sugar, and inflammation markers to assess heart health.

Traditional Treatments for Coronary Artery Disease

For years, CAD has primarily been treated with lifestyle changes, medications, and, in severe cases, surgery. These tried-and-true methods are still widely used today. They include:

• Lifestyle changes, like quitting smoking, adopting a heart-healthy diet, and exercising regularly
• Medications, including cholesterol-lowering drugs (statins), blood pressure medications, aspirin, beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors, and nitrates
• Angioplasty and stenting, a minimally invasive procedure where a balloon opens up a blocked artery and a stent keeps it open
• Coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG), a more invasive option that involves grafting a healthy artery or vein to bypass the blocked coronary artery

Innovative Heart Therapies for Coronary Artery Disease

While traditional treatments remain highly effective, several new therapies have emerged recently. Here are some of the latest advancements in cardiac care:

• Drug-eluting stents release medication over time to prevent re-narrowing of the artery. They are an improvement over traditional stents, which can sometimes result in restenosis (re-blocking).
• Enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) is a non-invasive therapy that uses external cuffs to improve blood flow to the heart. EECP is especially helpful for patients who are not candidates for surgery or stenting.
• Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) was originally developed to treat valve disease. This minimally invasive procedure is now being explored as a treatment for certain coronary artery conditions, particularly in patients who cannot undergo open-heart surgery.
• Gene therapy and stem cells are still in the experimental stages, but these therapies hold promise for regenerating damaged heart tissue and improving heart function in patients with CAD.
• Coronary intravascular lithotripsy (IVL) is a newer technique that uses shockwave technology to break up calcified plaque in the arteries, allowing for easier stent placement in patients with heavily calcified arteries.

  Cardiovascular Specialists of New England was the first-ever to use Shockwave’s coronary intravascular lithotripsy technology in New England on a patient suffering from coronary artery disesase.

These novel treatments are not yet widely available but represent a shift toward more personalized coronary artery disease solutions. They offer hope for patients who have not responded well to traditional treatments or who face high surgical risks.

Take Control of Your Heart Health

Whether you’re managing CAD or trying to prevent it, adopting a heart-healthy lifestyle is essential. Stay active, eat nutritious foods, maintain a healthy weight, and reduce stress to lower your risk of further heart issues. If you’re already diagnosed with CAD, combine these steps with regular checkups and cardiac treatments to manage the disease and improve your quality of life.

Cardiovascular Specialists of New England can help you along the way. We offer state-of-the-art heart procedures and customized care based on your unique needs. Located in Southern New Hampshire, we provide fast access to advanced cardiac care, eliminating the long wait times found at other clinics. Our focus is on minimally invasive procedures, giving you access to innovative heart therapies with fast recovery times and improved outcomes. Call us today to schedule an appointment and take the next step in protecting your heart health.