Board Certified Cardiologist & Cardiovascular Physician located in Princeton, NJ & Hamilton Square, NJ
About 18.2 million Americans have coronary artery disease (CAD), making it the most common type of heart disease. Often, coronary artery disease doesn’t cause symptoms until it reaches an advanced stage. Board-certified cardiovascular physician Kintur Sanghvi, MD, FACC, FSCAI, of NJ Heart & Vascular Care in Princeton and Hamilton, New Jersey, focuses on early identification of CAD and preventing its progression using some of the most advanced technology available. Call the office to set up an evaluation or book online today.
Coronary Artery Disease Q & A
What is coronary artery disease?
Coronary artery disease is diagnosed when the arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle are narrowed or blocked. A serious blockage can lead to a heart attack.
The narrowing and blockage of the arteries are usually due to atherosclerosis, when cholesterol, fat, and other debris accumulate on the inside of your artery walls. These substances are known as plaques, and they greatly restrict normal blood flow.
How is coronary artery disease identified?
Early identification of CAD prevents its progression and reduces your risk of complications. At NJ Heart & Vascular Care, Dr. Sanghvi uses state-of-the-art diagnostic tools to test for coronary artery disease.
Nuclear stress imaging
Nuclear stress imaging involves injecting a radioactive dye to reveal narrowed arteries and heart damage. An imaging machine creates a picture of your blood flow both during rest and exertion.
PET scan
A positron emission tomography (PET) scan evaluates your organ and tissue function. You take in a radioactive drug, orally or through injection. This tracer accumulates in areas that have higher levels of chemical activity, revealing disease.
Endothelial dysfunction evaluation
The endothelium is the thin lining of the heart and blood vessels. This lining releases enzymes and controls vascular activity to help blood clotting, immune function, and platelet function. Dysfunction in the endothelium can predict your risk of heart attack and stroke.
During the evaluation, specific drugs that usually cause the endothelium to contract are administered to detect decreased blood flow to the heart muscle.
How is coronary artery disease treated in its early stages?
Coronary artery disease is often a result of lifestyle habits that contribute to plaque buildup in your arteries. Being overweight, living a sedentary lifestyle, and smoking are controllable factors that Dr. Sanghvi can help you tackle.
If you have high cholesterol due to either genetics or dietary choices, Dr. Sanghvi may prescribe medications to help reduce it. He may also recommend blood-thinning medications to stop your blood from forming clots that could get stuck in narrowed arteries.
What procedures are necessary to treat coronary artery disease?
If you have serious blockages, you may need interventional procedures. Dr. Sanghvi has performed more than 10,000 cardiovascular procedures, including extremely complex cases such as instances of 100% blocked arteries and multiple artery blockages.
Options for opening up your arteries include percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or coronary angioplasty. This procedure involves placing a small mesh tube, or stent, into the artery to open it up to blood flow.
Dr. Sanghvi is a pioneer in the wrist artery catheterization approach to PCI. This procedure is performed by placing a long, thin tube through your radial artery — a blood vessel in the arm.
The tube threads all the way to the heart for placement of a balloon or stent to open up blocked arteries. Dr. Sanghvi invented a device, known as the RAILWAY™ Sheathless Access System, to facilitate this procedure.
Make an appointment at NJ Heart & Vascular Care to be evaluated for coronary artery disease. Call or use the online tool to schedule today.
