What is Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)?
Coronary Artery Disease (also called atherosclerosis or coronary heart disease) develops when the inner layers of the coronary artery walls become thick and irregular due to deposits of fat, cholesterol and other substances. This buildup is called “atherosclerotic plaque”. These plaque deposits can make the arteries stiff and irregular. This is called hardening of the arteries. As the interior walls of coronary arteries become lined with these deposits, they become narrowed, reducing the blood flow through them. If blood flow is restricted to the point where insufficient oxygen and nutrients reach the heart muscle, chest pain (angina), heart attack (myocardial infarction), or cardiac arrest may occur.
CAD is highly prevalent in modern society; tens of millions of people throughout the world have the disease, which makes it the most common type of heart disease.
