What is coronary artery disease?

Coronary artery disease (CAD), commonly known as coronary heart disease (CHD), ischemic heart disease (IHD) is a condition in which blood flow to the heart muscle is reduced because of plaque build-up (atherosclerosis) in the heart’s arteries. It is the most common cardiovascular disorder.

Types:

• stable angina : chest pain or pressure usually because of insufficient blood flow to heart muscles.
• unstable angina: angina that changes or worsens
• myocardial infarction : heart attack, decrease or stop of blood flow in coronary artery
• sudden cardiac death : failure of heart to pump blood adequately

Symptoms 

• chest pain 
• shortness of breath 

Causes 

• Atherosclerosis of the arteries (wall of arteries develop abnormally) of the heart 

Risk factors 

• High blood pressure 
• Smoking 
• Diabetes 
• Lack of exercise 
• Obesity 
• High blood cholesterol 

Prevention

• healthy diet  
• regular exercise
• maintaining a healthy weight
• not smoking