Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)

A progressive narrowing of one or more coronary arteries, restricting blood flow to the heart.  It is caused by atherosclerosis, a buildup of fatty material and plaque on the inner lining of the blood vessels.  Symptoms are chest pain (angina), heart attacks (myocardial infarction), heart failure, abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias) and sudden cardiac death.  Treatments include focusing on lifestyle changes, medications for high blood pressure and high cholesterol, and sometimes balloon angioplasty, or bypass surgery. See atherosclerosis