What is coronary artery disease vs coronary heart disease?

Coronary artery disease (CAD) refers to the buildup of plaque inside the coronary arteries, which supply blood to the heart muscle. Coronary heart disease is often used interchangeably with CAD and generally describes the health problems that result from narrowed or blocked coronary arteries.

What are the most common symptoms of coronary artery disease?

Common symptoms include chest pain or pressure (angina) and shortness of breath, especially with physical activity or stress. Some people also experience fatigue, lightheadedness, or discomfort in the arms, neck, jaw, or back.

Can you have coronary artery disease without symptoms?

Yes. Many people have CAD without noticeable symptoms, especially in the early stages. This is sometimes called “silent” CAD and may only be discovered through testing or after a heart-related event.

What causes coronary artery disease and what are the biggest risk factors?

CAD develops when cholesterol-rich plaque builds up in the artery walls over time. Major risk factors include: • Diabetes • High blood pressure • High cholesterol • Obesity • Physical inactivity • Smoking • Stress • Unhealthy diet Family history and aging also increase risk.

How is coronary artery disease diagnosed?

Diagnosis depends on symptoms and risk factors. Tests may include a stress test to assess blood flow during exercise, a coronary calcium score or CT coronary angiogram to detect plaque, and in some cases cardiac catheterization to directly visualize artery blockages.

How is coronary artery disease treated?

Treatment focuses on reducing symptoms, slowing disease progression, and preventing heart attacks. Options may include: • Bypass surgery • Lifestyle changes such as diet, exercise, and smoking cessation • Medications to control cholesterol, blood pressure, and symptoms • Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) such as angioplasty and stent placement Care plans are individualized based on disease severity, symptoms, and overall health.

Coronary Artery Disease Information | National Jewish Health

This information was reviewed and approved by Andrew M. Freeman, MD, FACC, FACP (9/1/2025).

What Is Coronary Artery Disease?

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a condition in which the blood vessels that supply the heart muscle become narrowed or blocked. These blood vessels are called coronary arteries. CAD is the most common form of heart disease, affecting roughly 1 in 20 adults in the U.S., according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.

The most common cause of CAD is atherosclerosis, a process in which plaque builds up inside the artery walls. Plaque is made up of cholesterol, fats and other substances found in the blood. Over time, plaque buildup narrows the arteries and reduces blood flow to the heart.

When blood flow is limited, the heart may not get enough oxygen, especially during physical activity or stress. This can increase the risk of chest pain, heart attack, heart failure and abnormal heart rhythms.

Many people with CAD live active lives with proper care. Long-term management often includes regular follow-up visits, medication

Risk Factors

A variety of other factors can increase risk of coronary artery disease, including:

Excess fats and cholesterol in the blood
Excess sugar in the blood (often due to diabetes)
Family history of heart disease
High blood pressure
High cholesterol
Obesity
Physical inactivity
Smoking, tobacco use
Stress
Unhealthy diet

Age and sex both play an important role in the risk of developing CAD. Risk increases steadily with age as plaque builds up in the coronary arteries over time, making CAD more common in older adults. Men generally develop CAD at younger ages than women, while women tend to develop the disease later in life. Although women develop CAD later, they may have less typical symptoms and are sometimes diagnosed later in the course of disease, which can affect outcomes.

Coronary Artery Disease vs Other Heart Disease Terms

You may see several terms used to describe related heart conditions:

Coronary artery disease (CAD) refers to plaque buildup and narrowing of the coronary arteries
Coronary heart disease (CHD) is often used interchangeably with CAD
Ischemic heart disease describes reduced blood flow to the heart due to narrowed arteries

These terms are closely related and often describe the same underlying problem.

Signs and Symptoms

Coronary artery disease can limit oxygen-rich blood flow to the heart. Symptoms may develop gradually or appear suddenly.

Common CAD Symptoms

Angina (chest pain): Pressure, squeezing or discomfort in the chest that may spread to the arms, back, belly, jaw or neck
Shortness of breath (dyspnea): Trouble breathing during activity or a feeling of chest tightness or burning

Some people also experience:

Fatigue
Lightheadedness
Discomfort in the arms, neck, jaw or back

Silent Coronary Artery Disease

Sometimes coronary artery disease has no symptoms, called silent CAD. It can go undiagnosed up until someone has a heart attack, irregular heartbeat or other heart conditions.

When to Seek Emergency Care

Call 911 or seek emergency care right away if you experience symptoms that may signal a heart attack, including:

Chest pain or pressure that lasts more than a few minutes or comes and goes
Pain spreading to the arms, back, neck, jaw or stomach
Shortness of breath
Nausea, lightheadedness or cold sweats

Getting help quickly can save your life.

Diagnosis

Your doctor will take into account several factors in diagnosing coronary artery disease such as family history, symptoms and risk factors. In addition, there are several diagnostic tests that are helpful when used together to diagnose the condition.

Imaging Tests

Coronary CT

During a coronary computerized tomography (CT), angiogram pictures are taken of cross sections or slices of the heart. A coronary artery calcium scoring CT can detect and measure the extent of the calcium deposits in the coronary arteries.

Echocardiography

An echocardiogram uses sound waves to produce an image of the heart, showing how well it is working. It can help determine which areas of the heart are having problems and help identify any damage to the heart.

Diagnostic Procedures

Cardiac Catheterization

This is a minimally invasive test which not only allows visualization of your coronary arteries, but also will allow for possible opening of blockages using a piece of metal scaffolding called a stent.

Stress Test

In a stress test, you perform a physical activity such as jogging on a treadmill to increase the speed of your heartbeat. This helps determine how well your heart performs. Usually, the stress test is accompanied by either nuclear or echocardiographic imaging.

Treatment

The key to treating coronary artery disease is to prevent it, or at least reduce the risk of serious cardiac events (such as heart attacks). This is usually done through diet, moderate exercise and a healthy, non-smoking and active lifestyle. In addition to several lifestyle changes, your health care provider may recommend various medications, medical procedures or rehabilitation to treat CAD.

Medications

Medicines can be important to:

Decrease the risk of heart attack
Lower cholesterol levels and decrease blood pressure
Prevent harmful blood clots

Relieve the stress on your heart and lessen coronary artery disease symptoms

Common medications used to treat coronary artery disease include:

ACE inhibitors
Anticoagulants
Aspirin
Beta blockers
Calcium channel blockers
Fish oil and other supplements high in omega-3 fatty acids
Glycoprotein IIb-IIIa
Nitroglycerin
Statins

Procedures

Severe cases of coronary artery disease may warrant medical procedures such as:

Angioplasty: This procedure opens blocked or narrowed coronary arteries. A thin tube with a balloon or other device is threaded through a blood vessel until it reaches the blocked artery. The balloon is then inflated, pushing the plaque against the artery wall, which widens the artery. The procedure helps to restore blood flow to the heart, alleviate chest pain and decrease the chance of a heart attack.
Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG): This procedure creates new routes for arteries and veins so they can bypass the clogged coronary arteries and reach the heart.

Therapies

Cardiac rehabilitation is another treatment option, usually combined with medicine and surgical methods. Cardiac rehab usually consists of:

Education, counseling and training. Patient education seeks to inform you of anything you may want to know about your condition, helping you make the best decisions possible to maintain good health. Counseling is available to help you cope with the stress of the condition and managing lifestyle changes.
Exercise training. Learning how to exercise safely, building muscle strength, and improving stamina can be very important in strengthening your heart and making it healthier.

Lifestyle Management

Many cases of coronary artery disease can be prevented or slowed with healthy habits. Prevention strategies include:

Eating a heart-healthy diet
Maintaining a healthy weight
Managing blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes
Quitting smoking
Staying physically active

When to See a Specialist

It’s important to be evaluated by a cardiologist if you or a loved one:

Has symptoms of coronary artery disease
Would like strategies to help improve your current treatment of coronary artery disease

At National Jewish Health in Denver, Colorado, we have one of most respected cardiology programs in the nation. Learn more about our program or use the button below to make an appointment.

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