Expert Care for Unexplained Chest Pain
Chesapeake Regional Healthcare is the first non-academic health system in Virginia or North Carolina to offer innovative testing that diagnoses coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD). It provides an accurate diagnosis for patients with chest pain and normal coronary arteries. Testing also helps end the cycle of repeated cardiac catheterizations and offers targeted treatment based on proven clinical data, resulting in better patient outcomes.
Understanding CMD testing
Many people, especially women, suffer from angina (chest pain, discomfort or pressure), but are told their main arteries are clear, leaving the root cause a mystery. CMD testing is an advanced coronary function test that examines the heart's small vessels, providing a clear, formal diagnosis.
Diagnosis leads to improved health
Our physicians use the results from your coronary function test to create a targeted treatment plan. Getting a formal CMD diagnosis ends the cycle of repeated cardiac catheterizations by identifying the root cause of angina when angiograms show no blockages. This precise assessment helps doctors create a tailored plan to improve vessel function, reduce pain, and significantly improve overall quality of life.
Treatment combines lifestyle adjustments and medications designed to manage your specific condition. Recent clinical trials confirm that this diagnosis-led approach provides better angina relief than prescribing medication without a clear diagnosis.
Why are heart symptoms often dismissed?
Approximately 20 to 30% of patients with angina show no significant blockages in standard tests. Historically, this has led to symptoms being dismissed or misdiagnosed, forcing patients to endure years of uncertainty. By formally identifying or excluding CMD, we provide certainty. This allows us to manage your care effectively and ensure you have access to new therapies as they become available.
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Services & Specialties
What is coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD)?
Coronary microvascular dysfunction is a condition where the heart's smallest arteries do not function properly, causing angina or chest pain even when the main coronary arteries are not blocked. Treatment typically involves lifestyle changes and medications like statins, beta-blockers and ACE inhibitors.
Why do I have angina if my arteries are not blocked?
Angina can originate from the heart's small vessels, not just the large arteries. This is known as non-obstructive coronary artery disease. Our specialized coronary function testing can accurately diagnose this condition when standard tests cannot.
How does CMD testing at Chesapeake Regional lead to better treatment?
It provides a formal diagnosis, which allows doctors to prescribe a targeted medical therapy based on the specific dysfunction identified and provide better symptom relief.
Am I a candidate for the CMD test?
If you experience persistent angina or chest pain but have been told you have no significant blockages after a cardiac catheterization, you may be a candidate.
How can CMD testing help me avoid unnecessary tests?
Patients with undiagnosed CMD often undergo multiple cardiac catheterizations—sometimes as many as 15—without getting answers. By providing a definitive diagnosis, testing helps end this expensive and stressful cycle.
