Symptoms
Coronary Artery Disease
Pressure or tightness across the chest when you climb a flight of stairs or hurry through a parking lot. Shortness of breath that seems out of proportion to the effort. A heaviness in the arms or jaw that comes and goes with exertion. These kinds of symptoms may indicate coronary artery disease and should be evaluated promptly by a cardiologist. When your concern is coronary artery disease, the team at Richmond Heart and Vascular Associates has the tools and experience to evaluate what is happening and create a tailored care plan for you.
Understanding Your Condition
What Is Coronary Artery Disease?
The coronary arteries wrap around the outside of the heart and deliver the oxygen-rich blood the heart muscle needs to keep beating. In coronary artery disease, fatty deposits called plaque gradually accumulate inside those arterial walls. Over years, that buildup stiffens and narrows the vessel, choking off blood flow to portions of the heart muscle. The medical term for this process is atherosclerosis, and it can begin decades before symptoms appear.
Diagnosis
Why It Matters
One of the most dangerous features of coronary artery disease is how quietly it progresses. Many people have significant arterial narrowing and feel perfectly fine until a moment of physical or emotional stress exposes the problem. When blood flow is severely reduced or a plaque ruptures, the result can be a heart attack. Identifying coronary artery disease early allows treatment to begin before that event occurs.
Risk Factors
Risk Factors
Risk factors for developing CAD include high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, diabetes, smoking, a family history of heart disease, physical inactivity, and obesity. Having multiple risk factors significantly increases the likelihood of early and more severe disease.
High Blood Pressure
Elevated Cholesterol
Diabetes
Smoking
Family History
Physical Inactivity
Obesity
Diagnosis
How We Evaluate It
Diagnosis begins with a complete medical history and physical exam. We use a combination of specialized tests to understand how your heart is functioning, identify the type of heart failure present, and determine the best course of treatment. Every evaluation is conducted in our accredited labs and interpreted by our own board certified cardiologists, not an outside reading service.
Understanding the exact nature of your heart failure allows us to tailor a treatment plan that addresses the root cause, not just the symptoms. We take the time to explain findings and answer your questions at every step.
EKG
At Richmond Heart and Vascular Associates, a cardiac evaluation typically starts with a thorough history and an electrocardiogram (EKG) to look at the heart's electrical activity.
Stress Testing
Stress testing, either on a treadmill or using medication to simulate exercise, reveals how the heart responds when demand increases.
Cardiac Catheterization
For patients who need a clearer look inside the coronary arteries, cardiac catheterization provides a direct image of the vessels and can identify blockages with precision.
Treatments
How We Treat It
Treatment is matched to the severity of the disease and to your personal health picture.
Lifestyle Changes
For many patients, a combination of lifestyle adjustments and medication is highly effective. Changes to diet, physical activity, smoking cessation, and weight management can slow the disease and reduce the risk of future events.
Medications
Medications lower cholesterol, control blood pressure, and protect against clot formation.
Angioplasty
When a significant blockage is present, a procedure called angioplasty uses a small balloon to open the narrowed artery, followed by placement of a stent to hold the vessel open. Our [Interventional Cardiology](#) team performs these procedures and works closely with your cardiologist throughout recovery.
Getting Started
Your PCP Sent You Here. You're in Good Hands.
If your primary care doctor has referred you to a cardiologist, we make the transition easy. We coordinate directly with your referring physician and return full documentation after every visit so your whole care team stays informed.
Schedule Your First Appointment
Schedule your first appointment online or by phone. We will handle the rest. Our team will reach out to coordinate your referral paperwork and any records we need.
Why our patients choose us
Why Choose Richmond Heart and Vascular Associates
Schedule an appointment online or call Richmond Heart and Vascular Associates at 804.800.6600. Our offices are open Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 5:00pm.
Diagnostic testing available in our offices, including stress testing and cardiac catheterization
Coordinated care between our cardiologists and interventional specialists means your treatment is managed as a single continuous plan
Offices in Chesterfield, Mechanicsville and Hopewell keep expert cardiac care accessible without long trips
• We take time to explain your results and your options so you can make informed decisions about your health