Coronary Artery Disease (original) (raw)

Also called: CAD, Coronary arteriosclerosis, Coronary atherosclerosis, Coronary heart disease

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Summary

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the most common type of heart disease. It is the leading cause of death in the United States in both men and women.

CAD happens when the arteries that supply blood to heart muscle become hardened and narrowed. This is due to the buildup of cholesterol and other material, called plaque, on their inner walls. This buildup is called atherosclerosis. As it grows, less blood can flow through the arteries. As a result, the heart muscle can't get the blood or oxygen it needs. This can lead to chest pain (angina) or a heart attack. Most heart attacks happen when a blood clot suddenly cuts off the hearts' blood supply, causing permanent heart damage.

Over time, CAD can also weaken the heart muscle and contribute to heart failure and arrhythmias. Heart failure means the heart can't pump blood well to the rest of the body. Arrhythmias are changes in the normal beating rhythm of the heart.

NIH: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

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• Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish

• Coronary Artery Disease - Coronary Heart Disease (American Heart Association)

• What Is Coronary Heart Disease? (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute) Also in Spanish

• How to Prevent Heart Disease: MedlinePlus Health Topic (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish

• Drug-Eluting Stents: Do They Increase Heart Attack Risk? (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish

• Vulnerable Plaque (Texas Heart Institute) Also in Spanish

• Acute Coronary Syndrome (American Heart Association)

• Myocardial Ischemia (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish

• What Is Atherosclerosis? (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute) Also in Spanish

• Werner syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)

• Coronary artery disease (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Coronary Artery Disease (National Institutes of Health)

• Coronary Arteries (Texas Heart Institute) Also in Spanish

• Heart Information Center (Texas Heart Institute) Also in Spanish

• How the Heart Works (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute) Also in Spanish

• Heart Disease in Women: MedlinePlus Health Topic (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish