CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE   1. What is coronary artery disease?   Coronary artery disease is a condition that causes narrowing of the coronary arteries so that blood flow to the heart muscle is reduced. It is the #1 killer of men and women in the United States causing 43% of all U.S. deaths. With over 1.5 million heart attacks a year, 1 in 4 Americans suffers from coronary artery disease; and, in 150,000 instances annually, the first, last, and only symptom of coronary artery disease is a fatal heart attack. 2. What is arteriosclerosis?   Arteriosclerosis is commonly called hardening of the arteries, which includes a variety of conditions that cause artery walls to thicken and lose elasticity. 3. What is atherosclerosis?   Atherosclerosis is a form of arteriosclerosis in which the inner layers of artery walls become thick and irregular due to deposits of fat, cholesterol and other substances. This buildup is sometimes called "plaque". As the interior walls of arteries become lined with layers of these deposits, the arteries become narrowed, and the flow of blood through them is reduced. 4. What causes coronary artery disease?   Coronary artery disease is often caused by the atherosclerotic process, which causes the narrowing of the coronary arteries due to plaque buildup. 5. What are some of the risk factors for heart disease?   The major risk factors for heart disease that cannot be changed are heredity (inherited traits), male sex and increasing age. The major risk factors for heart disease that result from modifiable lifestyle habits are cigarette (tobacco) smoke, high blood cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity and physical inactivity. Stress may also be a contributing risk factor. 6. What is plaque in the coronary arteries?   Plaque is the buildup of fatty deposits, cholesterol, cellular waste products, calcium and fibrin in the inner lining of the artery wall, characteristic of atherosclerosis. 7. What is cholesterol?   Cholesterol is a fat-like substance found in animal tissue and is present only in foods from animal sources such as whole milk dairy products, meat, fish, poultry, animal fats and egg yolks. 8. What is soft plaque and do we know when it develops to hard plaque?   Soft plaque consists of cholesterol deposits (fatty streaks), collagen and other connective tissue components that creates an inflammatory process in the lining of the arteriole wall. Over time, this inflammation causes tissue damage and changes the structure of the arteriole wall leading to another process called oxidation. It is this oxidation process that forms hardened calcified plaque. These calcified plaques may impede blood flow by increasing in size or by rupturing and causing the formation of a blood clot. The rate and extent to which soft plaques hardens depends on the individual and varies considerably from person to person. 9. What causes calcifications in the coronary arteries? What is the significance of coronary artery calcium?   Studies have shown that coronary atherosclerosis is the leading cause of myocardial infarction (heart attack) which affects more than1.5 million Americans a year of which 500,000 will die. It is, thus, well recognized that the early detection of coronary atherosclerosis is of prime importance. Calcification is caused from the buildup of fatty streaks in the inner lining of an artery and forms plaque. As the plaque builds and hardens it can reduce and block the flow of blood through the artery. The plaque can rupture, become dislodged, or form a blood clot leading to a heart attack. For more information about coronary atherosclerosis, please contact your personal physician or the American Heart Association at 800-242-8721. Research study findings show that coronary artery calcium is a significant indicator of the atherosclerotic process. It is a predictor and measurement of the risk associated with developing clinical symptoms. (Michael J. Davies, The Pathology of Coronary Atherosclerosis, The Heart, 8th ed., 1994.) More importantly, the early detection of coronary calcium allows for the early detection of coronary artery disease, which enables patients to make changes in their modifiable risk factors in order to stop, stabilize and perhaps even reverse the atherosclerotic process. 10. What is a calcium score?   The calcium score reflects both the density and the area of the hardened calcified plaque. After a Coronary Artery Scan, the technologist measures the area of calcification by using a highly sensitive and accurate computerized scoring technique. The total score is then compared against research findings of where study individuals in each age group have been diagnosed with coronary artery disease. The reading physician reviews and interprets all scores, images and test results to make recommendations on follow-up medical care. 11. Is atherosclerosis treatable?   Yes, the atherosclerotic process can be slowed, stabilized and actually reversed to some degree through aggressive lifestyle modifications and/or through medication therapies under the guidance of your physician. HeartScan's aim is to identify those individuals with coronary atherosclerosis so that they may become active participants in halting the progression of this disease process. By identifying atherosclerosis early, we hope to prevent the onset of symptoms and/or a sudden coronary event.

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