Cleveland Clinic

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the most common type of heart disease and is the leading cause of death in the United States for both men and women. CAD is the narrowing or blockage of the coronary arteries, usually caused by atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is the buildup of cholesterol and fatty deposits (plaque) on the inner walls of the arteries, which can restrict blood flow to the heart muscle by physically clogging the artery or by causing abnormal artery tone and function. Without an adequate blood supply, the heart becomes starved of oxygen and the vital nutrients it needs to work properly. The most common symptom of coronary artery disease is angina, often referred to as chest pain. Treatment for coronary artery disease involves reducing your risk factors, taking medications, possibly undergoing invasive and/or surgical procedures and seeing your doctor for regular visits. Treating coronary artery disease is important to reduce your risk of heart attack or stroke. Take advantage of this opportunity to have your questions answered by cardiologist, Dr. Samir Kapadia and heart surgeon, Dr. Stephanie Mick, from the Cleveland Clinic.

Samir Kapadia, MD, is the Director of the Sones Cardiac Catheterization Laboratories and Director of the Interventional Cardiology Fellowship Program in the Robert and Suzanne Tomsich Department of Cardiovascular Medicine. He is a Professor of Medicine at the Lerner College of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University. He is board-certified in internal medicine, cardiology and interventional cardiology. As an interventional cardiologist, Dr. Kapadia has a special interest in complex coronary, structural heart disease-related cardiac interventions as well as carotid and peripheral interventions.

Stephanie Mick, MD, is a cardiovascular surgeon in the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery in the Sydell and Arnold Miller Family Heart & Vascular Institute. She is board-certified in cardiothoracic surgery and has a special interest in minimally invasive and robotic cardiac surgery as well as complex cardiac surgery in adults.

Dr. Mick is involved in several significant clinical research projects at Cleveland Clinic, including studies on rare complications following heart attack, trends in the surgical treatment of endocarditis (inflammation of the heart lining and valves) and robotic and minimally invasive surgery. She has authored more than two dozen articles and editorials published in leading medical journals and has been an invited presenter at meetings of the American Heart Association, the New York Academy of Sciences and the American Academy of Cardiovascular Perfusion. Dr. Mick is a member of the American Heart Association, American College of Surgeons, American Medical Association and Society of Thoracic Surgeons.