Medical
Heart
Coronary Artery Disease
Coronary artery disease (CAD): A major cause of illness and
death, coronary artery disease begins when hard cholesterol substances
(plaques) are deposited within a coronary artery.
(The coronary arteries arise from the aorta adjacent to the heart and supply
the heart muscle with blood that is rich in oxygen. They are called the coronary
arteries because they encircle the heart in the manner of a crown.)
The plaques in the coronary arteries can cause a tiny clot to form which can
obstruct the flow of blood to the heart muscle producing symptoms and signs of
CAD that may include:
- Chest pain (angina
pectoris) from inadequate blood flow to the heart;
- Heart
attack (acute myocardial infarction), from the sudden total blockage of a
coronary artery; or
- Sudden death, due to a fatal disturbance of the heart rhythm.
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