What Is Coronary Artery Disease?
Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the most common form of heart disease and the leading cause of death globally. It occurs when the coronary arteries — the blood vessels that supply oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle — become narrowed or blocked due to the buildup of plaque (atherosclerosis). This reduces blood flow to the heart, potentially causing angina (chest pain), heart attack (myocardial infarction), or sudden cardiac death. Shanghai's Zhongshan Hospital is one of Asia's premier centers for cardiovascular medicine, led by world-renowned cardiologist Professor Ge Junbo.
Symptoms
- Angina — chest pain, pressure, tightness, or discomfort, often triggered by physical activity or stress
- Shortness of breath — especially during exertion
- Heart attack symptoms — severe chest pain radiating to the arm, jaw, or back; sweating; nausea; dizziness
- Heart palpitations or irregular heartbeat
- Fatigue — particularly in women, who may present with atypical symptoms
- Edema — swelling in the legs or feet in advanced heart failure
Causes & Risk Factors
- High blood pressure (hypertension)
- High cholesterol (hyperlipidemia)
- Diabetes mellitus
- Smoking
- Obesity and physical inactivity
- Family history of heart disease
- Age — risk increases with age, especially after 45 in men and 55 in women
- Chronic stress and poor sleep
Diagnosis
Accurate diagnosis of CAD requires a combination of clinical assessment and advanced imaging. Zhongshan Hospital's cardiology team uses:
- Electrocardiogram (ECG/EKG) — to detect ischemic changes and arrhythmias
- Exercise stress test (treadmill test) — to assess heart function under physical stress
- Echocardiography — ultrasound imaging of heart structure and function
- Coronary CT angiography (CCTA) — non-invasive imaging of coronary artery anatomy
- Coronary angiography (cardiac catheterization) — the gold standard for visualizing coronary artery blockages
- Fractional flow reserve (FFR) measurement — to assess the hemodynamic significance of borderline lesions
- Cardiac MRI — for myocardial viability and scar assessment
- Blood tests — troponin, BNP, lipid panel, HbA1c, inflammatory markers
Treatment Options
Zhongshan Hospital offers the full spectrum of evidence-based CAD treatments, from medical management to complex interventional and surgical procedures:
- Optimal medical therapy (OMT) — aspirin, statins, beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors, nitrates tailored to individual risk profile
- Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) — balloon angioplasty and stent placement to open blocked arteries; Zhongshan Hospital performs one of the highest volumes of PCI in China
- Drug-eluting stents (DES) — latest generation stents to minimize restenosis risk
- Intravascular imaging — IVUS and OCT guidance for optimal stent deployment
- Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) — surgical revascularization for complex multi-vessel or left main disease
- Hybrid revascularization — combining minimally invasive CABG with PCI for selected patients
- Cardiac rehabilitation — structured exercise, dietary, and lifestyle modification programs post-procedure
Why Treat CAD in Shanghai?
- Zhongshan Hospital's Department of Cardiology is one of China's most prestigious, performing thousands of PCI procedures annually with excellent outcomes
- Professor Ge Junbo is an Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and one of Asia's most decorated interventional cardiologists
- Access to the latest intravascular imaging technologies (IVUS, OCT) and physiological assessment tools (FFR, iFR)
- Comprehensive heart team approach — cardiologists and cardiac surgeons collaborate on complex cases
- Treatment costs typically 60–75% lower than equivalent care in the US, UK, or Australia
- Shorter waiting times — urgent cases can be accommodated within days
Our Specialist
Professor Ge Junbo (葵均波) — Chief of Cardiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University. Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Professor Ge is one of China's most celebrated cardiologists, with expertise in complex coronary intervention, structural heart disease, and cardiovascular imaging. He has pioneered numerous interventional techniques and led landmark clinical trials that have shaped Chinese and international cardiology guidelines.
How CMCS Can Help
Heart disease requires prompt, expert care. China Medical Concierge Shanghai (CMCS) can rapidly coordinate your cardiovascular evaluation and treatment at Zhongshan Hospital — from arranging priority consultations with Professor Ge's team, to facilitating diagnostic workup, coordinating PCI or CABG procedures, providing medical interpretation, and supporting your cardiac rehabilitation and follow-up care.
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