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Coranary Artery Disease (CAD)
What is CAD?
Coronary Artery Disease
In coronary artery disease, the coronary arteries become narrowed or blocked by gradual build-up of
fat (cholesterol) within the artery wall, which reduces blood flow to the heart muscle. This build-up is
called "atherosclerotic plaque" or simply "plaque."
If the plaque narrows the lumen or channel of the artery, it may make it difficult for adequate quantities of
blood to flow to the heart muscle. If the build-up reduces flow only mildly, there may be no noticeable
symptoms at rest, but symptoms such as chest pressure may occur with increased activity or stress.
These are signals that your heart is having difficulty. Other symptoms that may be experienced are
heartburn, nausea, vomiting, shortness of breath and heavy sweating.
When flow is significantly reduced and the heart muscle does not receive enough blood flow to meet its
needs, severe symptoms such as chest pain (angina pectoris), heart attack (myocardial infarction), or
rhythm disturbances (arrthythmias) may occur. A heart attack is the result of a completely blocked artery
which may damage the heart muscle.
Although death rates from heart attack, stroke, and other cardiovascular diseases have declined slightly
in recent years, these illnesses claim one American life every 34 seconds.
Fortunately, many of the factors that contribute to heart disease are controllable through lifestyle changes.
Remember, the first line of defense against
cardiovascular disease is self-awareness and education.
What Do My Cholesterol Levels Mean?
High blood cholesterol signals a higher risk of heart attack and stroke. That's why it’s important to have
your cholesterol levels checked regularly and discuss them with your doctor. A "lipoprotein profile" is a
test to find out your blood cholesterol numbers. It gives information about total cholesterol, LDL (bad)
cholesterol and HDL (good) cholesterol, as well as triglycerides (blood fats). All of these are measured
in milligrams per deciliter of blood (mg/dl).
YOUR CHOLESTEROL GOALS
- Total Cholesterol less than 200 mg/dl
- HDL more than 40 mg/dl
- LDL less than 100 mg/dl
- Triglycerides less than 130 mg/dl
Keep a record of your:
- Total Cholesterol
- “Good” (HDL) Cholesterol
- “Bad” (LDL) Cholesterol
- Triglyceride Level
Until you have reached the desirable levels
listed above, make sure you discuss these
numbers with your doctor. If you do not know you should have a "lipoprotein profile."
WHY IS HDL CONSIDERED "GOOD" CHOLESTEROL?
HDL stands for high-density lipoprotein. HDL is considered “good” cholesterol because it seems to lower
your risk of heart attack and stroke. That means that, unlike other cholesterol levels, the higher your HDL,
the better.
You can raise your HDL by quitting smoking, losing excess weight and being more active. If you make
healthy lifestyle changes, you can raise your HDL and reduce your risk of heart attack and stroke.
WHY IS LDL CONSIDERED "BAD" CHOLESTEROL?
LDL stands for low-density lipoprotein. This is the main carrier of harmful cholesterol in your blood. A high
level of LDL cholesterol means there’s a higher risk of heart disease and stroke. The lower your LDL
cholesterol is, the lower your risk will be.
WHY ARE TRIGLYCERIDES IMPORTANT?
Triglycerides are the most common type of fat in your body. They're also a major energy source. They
come from food and your body also makes them. As people get older, gain excess weight or both, their
triglyceride and cholesterol levels tend to rise.
Many people who have heart disease or diabetes have high triglyceride levels when fasting. Some
studies have shown that people with above-normal fasting triglyceride levels (150 mg/dl or higher) have a
higher risk of heart disease and stroke.
How Can I Lower High Cholesterol?
Too much cholesterol in the blood can lead to heart disease. Even though there’s much you can do to
lower your cholesterol levels and protect yourself, half of all Americans still have levels that are too high
(over 200 mg/dl). You can reduce cholesterol in your blood by eating healthy foods, losing weight if you
need to and exercising. Some people also need to take medicine because changing their diet isn’t
enough. Your doctor and nurses will help you set up a plan for reducing your cholesterol –
and keeping your heart healthy!
WHAT SHOULD I EAT?
Focus on low-saturated fat, low-cholesterol foods
such as these:
- A variety of fruits and vegetables (choose 5 or more servings per day)
- A variety of grain products like bread, cereal, rice and pasta, including whole grains (choose 6 or more servings per day)
- Fat-free and low fat-milk products (2 to 4 servings per day)
- Lean meats and poultry without skin (choose up to 6 total ounces per day)
- Fatty fish (at least 2 servings baked or grilled each week)
- Beans and peas
- Nuts and seeds in limited amounts
- Unsaturated vegetable oils like canola, corn, olive, safflower and soy bean oils (but a limited amount of margarines and spreads made from them)
WHAT SHOULD I LIMIT?
- Whole milk, cream and ice cream
- Butter, egg yolks and cheese – and foods made with them
- Organ meats like liver, sweetbreads, kidney and brain
- High-fat processed meats like sausage, bologna, salami and hot dogs
- Fatty meats that aren’t trimmed
- Duck and goose meat (raised for market)
- Bakery goods made with egg yolks and saturated fats
- Saturated oils like coconut oil, palm oil and palm kernel oil
- Solid fats like shortening, partially hydrogenated margarine and lard
- Fried foods
WHAT ARE SOME COOKING TIPS FOR ME?
- Use a rack to drain off fat when you broil, roast or bake
- Don’t baste with drippings; use wine, fruit juice or marinade
- Broil instead of pan-frying
- Cut all the fat you can see off meat before you cook it and take all the skin off poultry pieces. (If you're roasting a whole chicken or turkey, remove the skin after cooking)
- Use a vegetable oil spray to brown or sauté foods
- Serve smaller portions of higher-fat dishes, and serve bigger portions of lower-fat dishes like pasta, rice, beans and vegetables
- Make recipes or egg dishes with egg whites or egg substitutes, not yolks
- Instead of regular cheese, use low-fat cottage cheese, part-skim milk mozzarella and other fat-free or low-fat cheeses
If you are have high cholesterol symptoms described above, please call us.
Galichia Medical Group, PA (GMED) is a multi-specialty group that provides comprehensive medical
services to all of Wichita’s hospitals and throughout the State of Kansas. GMED is located at 2600 N.
Woodlawn in Wichita, Kansas. The group consists of practitioners specializing in Cardiology,
Electrophysiology, Internal Medicine, Family Practice, Geriatrics (including an Alzheimer’s and Memory
Loss Clinic), Gastroenterology, Nuclear Cardiology, Interventional Vascular Medicine, Endocrinology and
Pediatrics. GMED also has offices in Fredonia and Winfield. To schedule an appointment with one of our
physicians call toll free, 1-800-657-7250 or 316-684-3838. In addition, the Galichia Medical Group has
long provided cardiology services to rural communities of Kansas with satellite clinics throughout the State.
In January of 2005 a monthly endocrinology clinic was added to our office in Fredonia. For more
information about our satellite clinics across the State call toll free 1-800-657-7250 extension 2232.
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