Coronary artery disease, also called CAD, develops when plaque builds up in the coronary arteries, the blood vessels that deliver oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle. Over time, plaque can narrow these arteries and reduce blood flow to the heart. This process, called atherosclerosis, can cause chest discomfort and increase the risk of heart attack and other cardiovascular complications.
At The Cardiac and Vascular Interventional Group, we provide compassionate coronary artery disease treatment for patients in Dallas, DeSoto, and surrounding North Texas communities. Our team offers personalized evaluation, diagnostic testing, and interventional care designed to help you better understand and manage your heart health.
The CAD meaning is coronary artery disease. It is also sometimes called coronary heart disease or ischemic heart disease. CAD occurs when fatty deposits, cholesterol, calcium, and other substances build up within the coronary arteries. This gradual buildup is called atherosclerosis.
Over time, plaque can narrow the arteries and make it harder for blood to reach the heart muscle. A plaque rupture can also trigger a blood clot that suddenly blocks blood flow, causing a heart attack. Without appropriate care, reduced blood supply to the heart may contribute to chest pain, heart muscle damage, heart rhythm problems, heart failure, or other serious complications.
Coronary artery disease is closely related to other forms of cardiovascular disease, but the condition specifically affects the blood vessels that supply the heart. Early evaluation can help identify risk factors and guide a plan to protect your long-term heart health.
One of the challenges of CAD is that it can develop quietly. Some people have few noticeable symptoms until the condition becomes more advanced. For others, a heart attack may be the first sign that coronary artery disease is present.
A common symptom is angina, which is chest pain, pressure, tightness, heaviness, or discomfort caused by reduced blood flow to the heart muscle. Symptoms may occur during physical activity, emotional stress, or other times when the heart needs more oxygen.
Possible signs of coronary artery disease include:
Symptoms can present differently in women. While some women experience typical chest pressure or pain, others may notice shortness of breath, nausea, indigestion-like discomfort, jaw or back pain, dizziness, or unusual fatigue. These symptoms should never be ignored, especially when they are new, persistent, or occur with activity.
Call 911 immediately if you or someone nearby has symptoms that could indicate a heart attack, particularly chest discomfort with shortness of breath, sweating, nausea, fainting, or pain spreading to the arm, jaw, neck, or back. Heart attack symptoms require emergency medical care.
Coronary artery disease develops through a combination of health, lifestyle, family-history, and age-related factors. Plaque buildup can begin long before symptoms appear, which is why prevention and regular cardiovascular evaluations are important.
Risk factors for CAD may include:
Some risk factors can be managed through lifestyle changes and medical care, while others, such as family history and age, cannot be changed. A thorough heart evaluation can help identify which factors may be affecting your individual risk. The CDC identifies smoking, inactivity, unhealthy eating, excess weight, and family history among important CAD risk factors.
A thorough CAD diagnosis begins with listening to you. Your provider will discuss your symptoms, medical history, family history, medications, and risk factors. They may also perform a physical examination and recommend testing based on your needs.
At The Cardiac and Vascular Interventional Group, diagnostic testing is selected to help clarify how your heart is functioning, whether blood flow may be limited, and which treatment approach may be appropriate.
These procedures can provide detailed information when noninvasive testing indicates a possible blood-flow problem or when symptoms and risk factors require a closer look. Learn more about invasive procedures and interventional services at The Cardiac and Vascular Interventional Group.
Coronary artery disease treatment is individualized. Your care plan may depend on your symptoms, cardiovascular risk factors, test results, the severity and location of any artery narrowing, and your overall health. Treatment may include heart-healthy lifestyle changes, medication, procedures, surgery, or a combination of approaches.
Lifestyle changes are an important part of many coronary artery disease treatment plans. Your cardiology team may discuss practical, sustainable steps to support your heart health, such as:
These changes can support medication therapy and procedural care. Your team can help you set realistic goals that fit your health needs and daily life.
Medications for coronary artery disease may be used to help manage cholesterol, blood pressure, angina symptoms, diabetes, or clotting risk when appropriate. The medications your provider recommends will depend on your medical history, symptoms, test results, other prescriptions, and potential side effects or interactions.
Depending on the patient, a treatment plan may include medications that:
Your provider will review the potential benefits, risks, and side effects of any recommended medication. Do not start, stop, or change a prescription medication without guidance from the clinician who prescribes it.
Some patients need more than lifestyle changes and medication. When a blockage is significant or symptoms persist, your provider may recommend an interventional or surgical approach to improve blood flow to the heart.
Potential options may include:
As a cardiovascular practice with a focus on diagnostic and interventional care, The Cardiac and Vascular Interventional Group can help determine whether minimally invasive treatment may be appropriate and coordinate care when a surgical consultation is needed.
When you are looking for a coronary artery disease specialist, you deserve clinical experience as well as a team that sees you as a person, not just a diagnosis. At The Cardiac and Vascular Interventional Group, our approach is built around compassionate, personalized cardiovascular care.
Our team includes Dr. G. Mark Jenkins, MD, FACC, CEO and Founder of The Cardiac and Vascular Interventional Group, and GeTonya Dickerson, AGACNP, a cardiology nurse practitioner focused on patient education and long-term wellness. Dr. Jenkins’ FACC designation reflects recognition as a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology.
Patients with circulation concerns may also benefit from the practice’s broader vascular-care expertise, including Dr. Dan Jones, DPM, whose work focuses on peripheral artery disease and lower-extremity vascular health.
CVIG provides comprehensive cardiac and vascular diagnostic and interventional services. Our team focuses on helping patients understand their condition, identify concerns early, and explore appropriate options ranging from preventive strategies to minimally invasive procedures. The practice identifies coronary artery disease, peripheral artery disease, and structural heart disease among its areas of clinical focus.
Your heart health journey should feel clear, respectful, and supported. At The Cardiac and Vascular Interventional Group, your first visit is an opportunity to discuss what you have been feeling, what concerns you, and what steps may help protect your cardiovascular health.
The Cardiac and Vascular Interventional Group proudly serves patients in Dallas, DeSoto, South Dallas, and communities throughout North Texas. We are also committed to helping patients who travel for specialized cardiac and vascular care understand their options and coordinate the next steps in their treatment journey.
Our team treats a range of related conditions, including heart disease, cardiovascular disease, and peripheral artery disease. Although CAD and PAD affect different arteries, both may involve atherosclerosis and can be connected to broader cardiovascular risk.
Do not wait to address new chest discomfort, shortness of breath, unexplained fatigue, or concerns about your heart-health risk. A timely evaluation can provide answers, help identify CAD early, and connect you with a treatment plan designed around your needs.
Schedule an appointment with a coronary artery disease specialist at The Cardiac and Vascular Interventional Group. Call (469) 437-3560 today to request your visit in Dallas or DeSoto.
CAD stands for coronary artery disease. It means that the coronary arteries, which supply oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle, have become narrowed or blocked by plaque buildup. This process is commonly called atherosclerosis.
Some people have no noticeable symptoms at first. Others may develop chest discomfort, shortness of breath, unusual fatigue, nausea, dizziness, or pain that spreads to the arm, jaw, neck, back, or upper abdomen. In some cases, a heart attack may be the first sign of CAD.
A CAD diagnosis may involve a medical-history review, physical exam, blood-pressure and cholesterol evaluation, EKG, stress testing, echocardiogram, and other tests. If needed, a cardiac catheterization and coronary angiogram can provide detailed images of the coronary arteries.
Plaque buildup is generally considered a chronic condition, but its progression can often be slowed and managed. Healthy lifestyle changes, medication when appropriate, and treatment of risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, and smoking can help reduce future cardiovascular risk. In some cases, procedures may be needed to improve blood flow.
Depending on the individual patient, a provider may recommend medication categories that lower cholesterol, reduce clotting risk, manage blood pressure, relieve angina, or help control diabetes. The specific medications for coronary artery disease depend on a patient’s health history, symptoms, test results, and other medications.
You should speak with a cardiologist if you have chest pain, pressure, shortness of breath, unexplained fatigue, palpitations, dizziness, a history of heart disease, or significant risk factors such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, or a family history of early heart disease. For possible heart attack symptoms, call 911 rather than waiting for an office appointment.
Yes. The Cardiac and Vascular Interventional Group serves patients from Dallas, DeSoto, South Dallas, and surrounding North Texas communities. The practice is committed to compassionate, community-focused cardiac and vascular care.
