Here to Help Strengthen Your Heart
It’s time to stop coronary artery disease (CAD) in its tracks. With world-class cardiac specialists, innovative medicine and compassionate care, we’re ready to guide you on the path to whole-person health as you overcome CAD.
And here, we don’t just treat coronary artery disease symptoms. We give you the tools and resources you need to prevent or even reverse CAD. Because when your heart is strong, your future looks bright.
We’re here to help you find the right physician or a location that’s convenient for you.
World-Class Expertise, Wholehearted Care
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Your Elite Team of Experts
Highly skilled physicians trained in the diagnosis and treatment of coronary artery disease (atherosclerosis) work together to provide you top-notch, whole-person care.
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Pioneering Research
We’re leading the way in cardiovascular research with numerous clinical trials conducted simultaneously each year, all to provide you with the best care to live your best life.
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Quality Care With Convenient Locations
We offer world-class care with an attentive team and advanced cardiac clinics at many AdventHealth locations nationwide.
Get the Facts About Coronary Artery Disease
The best way to prevent coronary artery disease is to find out how to lower your risk and spot the symptoms early. We’re here to empower you with information so you can make informed decisions about your health.
- What Is CAD?
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To explain what coronary artery disease is, it’s important to understand what plaque is. Over time, this fatty substance can build up on your artery walls and restrict the vessels that supply blood, oxygen and nutrients to your heart.
Coronary artery disease occurs when excess cholesterol leaves waxy deposits in the arteries leading to and from the heart.
Since there are often no symptoms, many people don't realize they have coronary artery disease until they experience severe heart problems or a heart attack.
- Know How to Prevent CAD Through Healthy Lifestyle Changes
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Adopting healthy habits can greatly reduce your risk of developing coronary artery disease.
Tips for prevention include:
- Avoiding tobacco
- Controlling your blood pressure
- Eating a low-fat, low-salt diet
- Exercising regularly
- Getting enough sleep
- Limiting alcohol consumption
- Maintaining a healthy weight
- Managing stress
- Understand CAD Risk Factors
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Coronary artery disease has a variety of risk factors. Some are controllable, while others — like family history, age, ethnicity and gender — are not. Managing these risk factors with lifestyle modifications can help lower your risk of CAD:
- Alcohol: Limit your alcohol consumption
- Cholesterol: High LDL or low HDL
- Diabetes: increases the risk even when glucose levels are under control
- Diet and nutrition: a healthy diet is key to fighting cardiovascular disease
- Ethnicity: being African, Asian, Mexican, and/or Native American
- Excess body weight: excess body fat leads to a higher chance of heart disease
- Gender: men have a greater risk of heart attack than women do
- High blood pressure: 140/90 hg or higher
- Increasing age: the risk for both men and women increases significantly after 65
- Physical inactivity: exercise is central to a healthier heart
- Stress: take steps to reduce or manage stress
- Tobacco use: smoking severely damages your heart and lungs
By recognizing the risk factors that you can change, you can take control and break lifelong habits. With the help of your care team, you’ll be able to take steps toward a healthier heart and healthier you.
- Recognize CAD Symptoms
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Coronary artery disease symptoms may not appear until your arteries have become severely blocked. If you’re at an increased risk for this condition, it’s critical that you stay on the lookout for symptoms, as blocked arteries can lead to a heart attack.
It’s important to call 911 immediately if you experience one or more of these heart attack symptoms together:
- Arm, jaw or neck pain
- Chest pain or tightness
- Heart racing or palpitations
- Cold sweat
- Feeling tired (fatigue)
- Weakness
- Shortness of breath
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- Nausea, stomach discomfort or vomiting
While the above are the most common heart attack symptoms for everyone, women are more likely than men to experience:
- Back or jaw pain
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- Fainting
- Upper back pressure
Total Heart Health Begins Here
Early Diagnosis is Key
Make a change and take charge. We’ll help you spot the risk factors associated with coronary artery disease and make a plan to reduce stress in your life.
Common risk factors for coronary heart disease (atherosclerosis):
- Alcohol - Limit your alcohol consumption
- Cholesterol - High LDL or low HDL
- Diabetes - Increases the risk even when glucose levels are under control
- Diet and nutrition - A healthy diet is key to fighting cardiovascular disease
- Ethnicity - African, Asian, Mexican, and/or Native American
- Excess body weight - Excess body fat leads to a higher chance of heart disease
- Gender - Men have a greater risk of heart attack than women do
- High blood pressure - 140/90 Hg or higher
- Increasing age - Risk for both men and women increases significantly after 65
- Physical inactivity - Exercise is central to a healthier heart
- Stress - Take steps to reduce or manage stress
- Tobacco use - Smoking severely damages your heart and lungs
By recognizing the risk factors that you can change, you can take control and break lifelong habits. With the help of your care team, you’ll be able to take steps toward a healthier heart and healthier you.
The earlier you get a coronary artery disease diagnosis, the faster we can treat your condition. We have the experts and technology to oversee your heart health and ensure the best possible outcome.
Our diagnostic tools include:
- Cardiac catheterization
- Cardiac computed tomography (CT) scan
- Echocardiogram
- Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG)
- Exercise stress tests
- Nuclear stress tests
What Can You Do to Prevent Heart Disease?
Coronary artery disease treatment can take many different forms. But in almost every case, it involves making healthy lifestyle modifications to slow or stop disease progression.
For some people, medication, such as beta-blockers or ACE inhibitors, can effectively control blood pressure and reduce plaque build-up in the arteries.
If you have severe coronary artery blockage, you may need surgery. Rest easier knowing you have a team of world-class cardiac surgeons on your side. Our specialists have extensive experience in some of the most complex heart surgeries available. We offer:
- Angioplasty and atherectomy
- Coronary artery bypass grafting with endoscopic vein harvesting
- Open and endovascular stenting
- Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI)
When you’re recovering from a heart attack or heart surgery, you need a comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation program tailored to your unique needs.
You’ll be guided through every step of cardiac rehab by our team of physical therapists, nurses, exercise therapists and rehabilitation specialists. We monitor your progress and stay in close communication with your doctors.
Cardiologists Who Put Your Heart First
Your heart supports your whole health — and so do our physicians. Count on our experienced cardiologists near you to design a treatment plan tailored to your unique needs, so your heart can beat stronger for longer.
Solid Support That Heals Hearts
Find Heart Care Near You
Across the country, each of our locations offering congenital heart disease care contributes to the strength of the AdventHealth Cardiovascular Institute network. Explore your options for care close to home with the guidance of our dedicated team. We’ll help you find the right fit, so you’re in the best setting to get the care you need.