Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a chronic disease in which the coronary arteries are hardened and narrowed (atherosclerosis). The coronary arteries carry oxygen-rich blood to the heart. When they are diseased, the heart is at risk of not receiving the oxygen-rich blood that it needs in order to function.

CAD develops gradually. First, fatty plaque narrows the coronary arteries. Next, the plaque calcifies, causing the arteries to become harder and stiffer. Untreated, CAD usually continues to worsen and can eventually lead to a heart attack or even cardiac arrest (in which the heart stops beating).

Many CAD patients have symptoms such as chest pain (angina) and fatigue. Other patients have no warning signs at all.

Strategies to help reduce risk factors for CAD include the following:

• Learning your family medical history
• Eating a heart-healthy diet
• Improving your cholesterol ratio
• Controlling homocysteine levels
• Exercising regularly
• Controlling diabetes
• Controlling high blood pressure (hypertension)
• Achieving and maintaining a healthy weight
• Managing your stress
• Quitting smoking (or not starting to smoke)
• Controlling chronic depression

The above strategies could also help slow the progression of CAD if it has already developed.

Treatment options for CAD include medication, balloon angioplasty (with or without stenting) and traditional bypass surgery.