What is Coronary Artery Disease?

Coronary artery disease, also called CAD, is a condition that affects your heart. It is the most common heart disease in the United States. CAD happens when coronary arteries struggle to supply the heart with enough blood, oxygen and nutrients.

Cholesterol deposits, or plaques, are almost always to blame. These buildups narrow your arteries, decreasing blood flow to your heart. This can cause chest pain, shortness of breath or even a heart attack.

CAD typically takes a long time to develop. So often, patients don’t know that they have it until there’s a problem. But there are ways to prevent coronary artery disease, and ways to know if you’re at risk and ways to treat it.

Keep reading this article on Mayo Clinic.