Coronary angiography
A coronary angiogram is an X-ray test that shows the arteries that supply the heart.
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Conditions · Dubai
Coronary artery disease: blocked heart arteries
Coronary artery disease is narrowing of the heart's arteries by fatty plaque. It can cause angina, breathlessness or a heart attack, and it can also be silent. Treatment ranges from lifestyle changes and medicines to stents or bypass surgery. Dr Shady Habboush diagnoses and treats coronary artery disease at Saudi German Hospital Dubai.
Dr Shady HabboushConsultant Interventional Cardiology · Saudi German Hospital Dubai2 min read4 sourcesMedically reviewed against ESC and NHS guidance
01
Signs worth a check
- Chest pain, pressure or tightness with effort (angina)
- Breathlessness on effort, sometimes the only symptom, especially in older people and people with diabetes
- A heart attack: sudden, severe or prolonged chest pain (call 998)
- No symptoms, but found on a scan or test
Risks and alternatives
Each treatment has benefits and risks, including the side effects of medicines and the risks of procedures. In stable disease, starting with medicines is a reasonable option for many people. Your options and their trade-offs are discussed with you before any decision.
02
How it is assessed
- 01
Assessment of symptoms and risk factors: blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, smoking and family history.
- 02
ECG and, where needed, an echo.
- 03
A test to look for narrowing or reduced blood flow: a CT coronary angiogram, a stress test, or an invasive angiogram.
- 04
A shared decision on treatment, based on your symptoms, the pattern of disease and your preferences.
03
Treatment options
Every plan includes protecting the arteries: not smoking, regular activity, healthy eating, and medicines for cholesterol and blood pressure when needed.
Medicines such as aspirin, statins and anti-anginal medicines reduce symptoms and risk for many people.
Angioplasty with stents or bypass surgery is considered when symptoms persist despite medicines, after a heart attack, or for certain patterns of disease.
Stable or acute?
| Stable (chronic) disease | Acute coronary syndrome | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical pattern | Predictable chest tightness with effort that settles with rest | New, worsening or rest pain; heart attack |
| What to do | Book an assessment | Call 998 |
| Usual first steps | Medicines, risk factor control, tests | Emergency care, often urgent angiography |
04
Questions about this
Can coronary artery disease be reversed?
Plaque does not usually disappear, but treatment can slow or stop its growth and lower the risk of a heart attack. Lowering LDL cholesterol strongly is one of the main tools.
Do I need a stent if I have a blockage?
Not always. In stable disease, many people do well with medicines. Stents help most with symptoms that persist and in heart attacks.
What is the difference between a diagnostic angiogram and a stent?
The diagnostic angiogram is a test that shows whether there is a narrowing. A stent is a treatment that opens the narrowed artery.
Is coronary artery disease hereditary?
Family history raises the risk, especially early heart disease in a parent or sibling. Lifestyle and other risk factors still matter a great deal.
05
Related guides
Angioplasty and stents
Coronary angioplasty widens a narrowed heart artery from the inside using a small balloon, and a stent, a fine metal mesh tube, helps keep it open.
Read the guideHigh cholesterol
LDL cholesterol carries cholesterol into the artery wall, where it builds plaque.
Read the guideSources
Medical facts on this page follow the sources below.
- NHS: Coronary heart disease
- 2024 ESC Guidelines for the management of chronic coronary syndromes. Eur Heart J 2024
- 2023 ESC Guidelines for the management of acute coronary syndromes. Eur Heart J 2023
- 2021 ESC Guidelines on cardiovascular disease prevention in clinical practice. Eur Heart J 2021
Medically reviewed against ESC and NHS guidance · Updated October 2026. General information, not medical advice.
Location and booking
Book a consultation
Appointments are made through Saudi German Hospital Dubai, Hessa Street, Al Barsha 3. Consultations in Arabic, English and German.
- Address
- Hessa Street, Al Barsha 3, Dubai
- Languages
- Arabic, English, German
Chest pain right now? Do not wait for an appointment. Call 998 or go to the nearest emergency department.