Stable Coronary Artery Disease
Stable coronary artery disease (stable CAD) occurs when fatty plaques build up inside the coronary arteries, narrowing them enough to reduce blood flow to the heart muscle. Unlike a heart attack, the plaques in stable CAD are not acutely ruptured, symptoms are predictable and triggered by exertion or stress rather than occurring at rest.
Key points
- Angina, a tight or squeezing chest sensation brought on by exertion, is the hallmark symptom and usually eases within minutes of rest.
- Some people feel the pain spread into the jaw, an arm or the upper back, and breathlessness on exertion is common in older adults.
- ACE inhibitors such as perindopril relax artery walls and lighten the heart’s workload, which matters most after a cardiac event.
What the narrowing actually feels like
The hallmark symptom is angina: a tight, heavy, or squeezing sensation in the chest that typically comes on during physical effort, climbing stairs, walking briskly, or carrying shopping. It usually fades within minutes of resting. Some people feel the discomfort radiate to the jaw, left arm, or upper back. Breathlessness on exertion is also common, particularly in older adults, and the condition is increasingly prevalent in people under 60.
Keeping the arteries working as well as possible
Medicines from the heart and blood pressure category form the backbone of treatment. ACE inhibitors such as perindopril help protect the heart and blood vessels by relaxing artery walls and reducing the workload on the heart, which is especially relevant after a previous cardiac event. Alongside medicines, reducing salt, quitting smoking, and keeping blood pressure and cholesterol within target ranges each make a measurable difference to long-term outlook.
If chest pain changes, becoming more frequent, happening at rest, or lasting longer than usual, seek medical attention promptly, as this may signal a change in the underlying plaques.