Cardiovascular and circulatory disorders

Coronary Artery Disease

When blood vessels supplying the heart narrow or block, leading to chest pain and heart problems.
  • enableDex
  • disAbility Atlas
      • Coronary Artery Disease

About

Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) is an umbrella term for conditions such as Coronary Heart Disease (CHD), which occur when the blood vessels supplying the heart become narrowed or blocked.

This can lead to chest pain, heart attack, and other serious heart problems.

This condition is often invisible.

Many disabilities, including this one, may not have outward signs—people can be significantly impacted even if they appear “fine” on the outside.

Common Challenges

  • Fatigue and low energy
  • Shortness of breath or chest pain during physical activity
  • Limited ability to perform physically demanding tasks
  • Increased risk of heart attack or other complications during stress
  • Frequent medical appointments or hospital visits
  • Anxiety about health worsening at work
  • Difficulty managing stress at work

Practitioner Help

  • Help the participant understand their limitations and strengths
  • Provide advice on suitable job roles that match their physical ability
  • Support with developing stress management strategies
  • Encourage regular breaks and a manageable work schedule
  • Assist with communicating needs to employers and advocating for workplace modifications
  • Support in managing energy levels through pacing and scheduling

Common Accommodations

  • Flexible working hours or part-time work
  • Ability to work from home if needed
  • Providing a less physically demanding job role
  • Regular breaks to avoid fatigue
  • A comfortable and supportive work environment to reduce stress
  • Work adjustments to minimize physical strain
View more on enableDex

Notes

It's important to address both physical and emotional challenges when managing Coronary Artery Disease in the workplace.

Job roles should be chosen carefully to reduce the risk of triggering heart-related issues.

Support from health professionals is crucial for maintaining a good work-life balance and preventing further health deterioration.

World Heart Day is 29th September

Resources

  • Coronary heart disease- atherosclerosis, symptoms and treatment | healthdirect
  • What is coronary heart disease? | Heart Foundation
  • Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) vs Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)
  • Heart, stroke and vascular disease: Australian facts, Coronary heart disease - Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
Cardiovascular and circulatory disorders

Help Us Improve the Knowledge Hub

This Knowledge Hub is a living library that relies on community feedback to stay current, accurate, and effective for everyone. We welcome all submissions, whether you've spotted an error, have an improvement idea, or want to suggest a new topic.

Report an Inaccuracy

Help us correct outdated information, broken links, or any factual errors you find.

Suggest an Improvement

Suggest an improvement to make an existing profile or resource much clearer.
submit feedback