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What Is Coronary Artery Disease?

Coronary artery disease (CAD) occurs when the arteries that supply
blood to the heart muscle (the

coronary arteries) become hardened and narrowed. The arteries harden
and narrow due to buildup of a

material called plaque (plak) on their inner walls. The buildup of
plaque is known as atherosclerosis

(ATH-er-o-skler-O-sis). As the plaque increases in size, the insides of
the coronary arteries get

narrower and less blood can flow through them. Eventually, blood flow
to the heart muscle is reduced,

and, because blood carries much-needed oxygen, the heart muscle is not
able to receive the amount of

oxygen it needs. Reduced or cutoff blood flow and oxygen supply to the
heart muscle can result in:

Angina (AN-ji-na or an-JI-na). Angina is chest pain or discomfort that
occurs when the heart does not

get enough blood.
Heart attack. A heart attack happens when a blood clot develops at the
site of plaque in a coronary

artery and suddenly cuts off most or all blood supply to that part of
the heart muscle. Cells in the

heart muscle begin to die if they do not receive enough oxygen-rich
blood. This can cause permanent

damage to the heart muscle.
Over time, CAD can weaken the heart muscle and contribute to:
Heart failure. In heart failure, the heart can't pump blood
effectively to the rest of the body. Heart

failure does not mean that the heart has stopped or is about to stop.
Instead, it means that the heart

is failing to pump blood the way that it should.
Arrhythmias (a-RITH-me-as). Arrhythmias are changes in the normal
beating rhythm of the heart. Some

can be quite serious.
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.
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