Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)

Coronary artery disease develops when the major blood vessels that supply your heart become damaged or diseased. The coronary arteries supply blood, oxygen, and nutrients to your heart. A buildup of plaque can narrow these arteries, decreasing blood flow to your heart. Eventually, the reduced blood flow may cause chest pain (angina), shortness of breath, or other coronary artery disease signs and symptoms. A complete blockage can cause a heart attack.

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Symptoms

Chest pain (angina). You may feel pressure or tightness in your chest as if someone were standing on you. This pain, called angina, usually occurs on the middle or left side of the chest. Angina is generally triggered by physical or emotional stress. The pain usually goes away within minutes after stopping the stressful activity. In some people, especially women, the pain may be brief or sharp and felt in the neck, arm, or back.
Shortness of breath. If your heart can’t pump enough blood to meet your body’s needs, you may develop shortness of breath or extreme fatigue with activity.

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Causes

Coronary artery disease is thought to begin with damage or injury to the inner layer of a coronary artery, sometimes as early as childhood. The damage may be caused by various factors, including:

Smoking
High blood pressure
High cholesterol
Diabetes or insulin resistance
Not being active (sedentary lifestyle)

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Complications

Coronary artery disease can lead to:

Heart attack. If a cholesterol plaque ruptures and a blood clot forms, complete blockage of your heart artery may trigger a heart attack.
Heart failure. If some areas of your heart are chronically deprived of oxygen and nutrients because of reduced blood flow, or if your heart has been damaged by a heart attack, your heart may become too weak to pump enough blood to meet your body’s needs.
Abnormal heart rhythm (arrhythmia). Inadequate blood supply to the heart or damage to heart tissue can interfere with your heart’s electrical impulses, causing abnormal heart rhythms.

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Prevention

The same lifestyle habits used to help treat coronary artery disease can also help prevent it. A healthy lifestyle can help keep your arteries strong and clear of plaque. To improve your heart health, follow these tips:

Quit smoking.
Control conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes.
Stay physically active.
Eat a low-fat, low-salt diet that’s rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains.
Maintain a healthy weight.
Reduce and manage stress.