Coronary Microvascular Disease

Coronary microvascular disease is a condition that affects the walls and lining of the tiny blood vessels that branch off of the larger coronary arteries.

Damage to the walls and lining of the blood vessels can reduce blood flow to the heart, as well as lead to spasms.

Risk factors

Women develop coronary microvascular disease more frequently than men. The disease also occurs more frequently in young women.

Both men and women with coronary microvascular disease often have an accompanying condition, such as diabetes.

Other risk factors for coronary microvascular disease include:

In women, there are additional risk factors for coronary microvascular disease:

Symptoms

Although there are several symptoms that can be a sign of coronary microvascular disease, there are a few that are specific to women, including:

Diagnosis

Diagnosing coronary microvascular disease requires skill and expertise in recognizing the symptoms.

• Stress test. When you experience symptoms of heart disease, the first step to identify the problem is a stress test. Stress tests do not always diagnose coronary microvascular disease, however. If symptoms continue, the patient undergoes the next diagnostic test.
• Endothelial function test. This test checks the function of endothelial cells in the smallest arteries of the heart. If the small arteries don't open or close properly, it is a sign of coronary microvascular disease.
• Coronary reactivity testing. A coronary reactivity test is similar to the endothelial function test, although it checks the function of larger arteries.

Prevention

Treatment and prevention of coronary microvascular disease focuses primarily on controlling risk factors and symptoms.

Prevention strategies may include: