Coronary arteries bring oxygen rich blood to the heart muscle.
Coronary artery disease (CAD) is blockage of these arteries. If
the blockage is complete, areas of the heart muscle may be
damaged. In a severe case, the heart muscle dies. This can lead
to a heart attack, also known as a myocardial infarction (MI).
Coronary artery disease is the most common form of heart
disease. It is the leading cause of death worldwide. -
Thickening of the walls of the arteries that feed the heart
muscle - Build up of fatty plaques within the coronary arteries
- Sudden spasm of a coronary artery - Narrowing of the coronary
arteries - Inflammation within the coronary arteries -
Development of a blood clot within the coronary arteries that
blocks blood flow Major risk factors include: - Sex: male—men
have a greater risk of heart attack than women - Age: 45 and
older for men, 55 and older for women - Heredity: strong family
history of heart disease - Obesity and being overweight - High
blood pressure - Inactive lifestyle - High c