Coronary Artery Disease: Overview

 
Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a condition caused by a buildup of excess plaque in the coronary arteries, which are important for supplying the heart with oxygen. It is also known simply as (coronary) heart disease. 

This plaque is made up of fat, cholesterol, calcium and other substances found in the blood. When plaque builds up in the arteries, the condition is called atherosclerosis. When your coronary arteries become obstructed by this plaque, oxygen-rich blood can't reach your heart muscle. This can lead to angina (upper body pain or pressure due to a lack of oxygen-rich blood) or even a heart attack.

Over time, CAD can weaken the heart muscle and cause heart failure and irregular heart rhythms. The disease is the most frequent type of heart disease, and it is the leading cause of death in the United States for both men and women.

This information has been adapted from the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute.