coronary artery disease
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: A condition characterized by the narrowing or blockage of the coronary arteries, the major blood vessels that supply the heart with blood and oxygen. This narrowing is primarily caused by the buildup of fatty deposits, called plaques (atheromas), within the artery walls, a process known as atherosclerosis.
Usage
This term is used as a medical diagnosis to describe a specific, chronic cardiovascular condition. * The patient was diagnosed with coronary artery disease after experiencing chest pain. * Smoking and high cholesterol are major risk factors for developing coronary artery disease. * Managing coronary artery disease often involves medication, diet, and exercise.
Advanced Usage
- Acronym: The term is commonly abbreviated as CAD in medical contexts.
- The study focused on new treatments for patients with CAD.
- Clinical Context: It is often discussed in relation to its complications, such as angina (chest pain) or myocardial infarction (heart attack).
- Severe coronary artery disease can lead to a heart attack if a plaque ruptures and blocks blood flow.
Variants and Related Words
- Atherosclerosis (noun): The specific pathological process of plaque buildup inside arteries, which is the primary cause of coronary artery disease.
- Ischemic Heart Disease (noun): A closely related term often used synonymously with coronary artery disease, emphasizing the resulting reduction (ischemia) in blood flow to the heart muscle.
- Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) (noun): Another common synonym for coronary artery disease.
Synonyms
- Coronary heart disease (CHD)
- Ischemic heart disease
- Arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease (in a broader sense)
Related Phrases
- Stable coronary artery disease: Refers to a predictable pattern of chest pain (angina) typically triggered by exertion or stress.
- Obstructive coronary artery disease: Describes a significant physical blockage (usually >70% narrowing) in one or more coronary arteries.
- Non-obstructive coronary artery disease: Refers to the presence of atherosclerosis that has not yet caused a major blockage but may still impair artery function and cause symptoms.
Noun
- a stage of arteriosclerosis involving fatty deposits (atheromas) inside the arterial walls, thus narrowing the arteries