Coronary Artery Disease
Information on Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) such as what is CAD, what causes CAD, the signs and symptoms of CAD and the risk factors for CAD.
Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) is the leading cause of death in both men and women in the United States. About 13 million people in the United States have Coronary Artery Disease.
What is Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)?
The coronary arteries (arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle) become hardened and narrowed due to plaque on the inner walls or lining of the arteries (atherosclerosis). This reduces blood flow to the heart and decreases the oxygen supply to the heart muscle. When this occurs you can develop angina (chest pain), heart attack, heart failure (heart failing to pump blood effectively) and arrhythmias (change in the normal rhythm of the heartbeats).
What causes Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)?
CAD is caused by atherosclerosis ?Ĭ the thickening and hardening of the inside walls of the arteries. Some hardening occurs normally as you grow older and often begins in childhood. The plaque deposits in the arteries are made of fat, cholesterol, calcium and other substances from the blood. Over time, the buildup in the coronary arteries can narrow the arteries so that less blood can flow to the heart muscle, completely block the arteries and the flow of blood and cause blood clots to form and block the arteries.
Signs and Symptoms
Common symptoms include :
- Chest pain or discomfort (angina)
- Pain in one or both arms, the left shoulder, neck, jaw or back
- Shortness of breath
- Heart attack
Risk Factors
The following factors make it more likely that you will develop CAD:
The more risk factors you have the greater your chance of developing CAD.
- Age (men - after age 45/women - after age 55)
- Family history
- High blood cholesterol
- High blood pressure
- Cigarette smoking
- Diabetes
- Being overweight or obese
- Lack of physical activity
Information gathered 3-23-05.