The most common type of heart disease is called
coronary artery disease (CAD)
. CAD is the narrowing of the inside diameter or lumen of one or more of
the arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle itself.
This narrowing occurs due to a process called atherosclerosis.
Atherosclerosis
is the gradual buildup of a substance called plaque on the artery walls.
Plaque is primarily made up of fats
and cholesterol. Over time, plaque can gradually thicken enough to
decrease the volume of blood flow through the arteries, causing
a blockage. This blockage prevents oxygen-rich blood from reaching
the heart muscle. When the oxygen supply to the heart muscle is
significantly decreased, either angina pectoris (chest pain) or a
myocardial infarction (heart attack) may occur.
Choose a topic at left and click for more information on Coronary Artery Disease.
