FEATURED MEDICAL EDUCATION TOPIC: Coronary Artery Disease—Prevention and Treatment

What is the problem?

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. Coronary artery disease (CAD) accounts for nearly 1 in 5 deaths each year, and is the most common form, affecting about 1 in 20 adults. Over time, CAD can weaken the heart muscle and may lead to heart failure or arrhythmia. Risk factors for coronary artery disease are high LDL cholesterol, low HDL cholesterol, high blood pressure, family history, diabetes, smoking, obesity, and increased age.  Management of CAD involves lifestyle changes, medication, and possibly procedures like stents or bypass surgery. It is important for physicians to optimally manage patients with coronary artery disease, recognizing signs and symptoms and using the latest treatment guidelines.

Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of this activity, the learners will be able to:

• Describe the relationship between high cholesterol and coronary artery disease, and explain the need for selecting patients for treatment
• Review the newest clinical trial data to help physicians keep abreast of the latest developments in hypertension management
• Evaluate recent studies on the need for aggressive treatment of coronary artery disease, including primary and secondary prevention

If your medical staff needs an update on coronary artery disease, consider contacting our office to book a speaker at 877-505-4777 or info@speakersnetwork.com.

REFERENCES

https://www.cdc.gov/heart-disease/data-research/facts-stats/index.html

https://www.cdc.gov/heart-disease/data-research/facts-stats/index.html#:~:text=Coronary%20artery%20disease%20(CAD),3

https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/coronary-heart-disease