View source for Coronary artery disease

{{Infobox medical condition (new)
| name          = Coronary artery disease
| image         = Blausen 0257 CoronaryArtery Plaque.png
| caption       = Illustration depicting atherosclerosis in a coronary artery
| field         = [[Cardiology]], [[cardiac surgery]]
| synonyms      = Atherosclerotic heart disease,<ref>{{cite web|title=Coronary heart disease – causes, symptoms, prevention|url=https://www.southerncross.co.nz/AboutTheGroup/HealthResources/MedicalLibrary/tabid/178/vw/1/ItemID/191|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140303085351/https://www.southerncross.co.nz/AboutTheGroup/HealthResources/MedicalLibrary/tabid/178/vw/1/ItemID/191/|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 March 2014|website=Southern Cross Healthcare Group|access-date=15 September 2013}}</ref> atherosclerotic vascular disease,<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Faxon DP, Creager MA, Smith SC, Pasternak RC, Olin JW, Bettmann MA, Criqui MH, Milani RV, Loscalzo J, Kaufman JA, Jones DW, Pearce WH | display-authors = 6 | title = Atherosclerotic Vascular Disease Conference: Executive summary: Atherosclerotic Vascular Disease Conference proceeding for healthcare professionals from a special writing group of the American Heart Association | journal = Circulation | volume = 109 | issue = 21 | pages = 2595–604 | date = June 2004 | pmid = 15173041 | doi = 10.1161/01.CIR.0000128517.52533.DB | doi-access = free }}</ref> coronary heart disease<ref>{{MedlinePlusEncyclopedia|007115|Coronary heart disease}}</ref>
| symptoms      = [[Chest pain]], [[shortness of breath]]
| complications = [[Heart failure]], [[Heart arrhythmia|abnormal heart rhythms]], [[Myocardial infarction|heart attack]], [[cardiogenic shock]], [[cardiac arrest]]
| causes        = [[Atherosclerosis]] of the [[Coronary arteries|arteries of the heart]]
| risks         = [[hypertension|High blood pressure]], [[tobacco smoking|smoking]], [[diabetes mellitus|diabetes]], [[exercise|lack of exercise]], [[obesity]], [[hypercholesterolaemia|high blood cholesterol]]
| diagnosis     = [[Electrocardiogram]], [[cardiac stress test]], [[coronary computed tomographic angiography]], [[Coronary catheterization|coronary angiogram]]
| prevention    = [[Healthy diet]], regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, not smoking
| treatment     = [[Percutaneous coronary intervention]] (PCI), [[coronary artery bypass surgery]] (CABG)
| medication    = [[Aspirin]], [[beta blocker]]s, [[Medical use of nitroglycerin|nitroglycerin]], [[statin]]s
| frequency     = 110 million (2015)
| deaths        = 8.9 million (2015)
}}
[[File:Blausen 0259 CoronaryArteryDisease 02.png|thumb|Drawing of how the coronary arteries get clogged up with plaque]]
'''Coronary artery disease''', also called '''coronary heart disease (CHD)''', is a [[heart disease]]. ("Coronary" means "the blood vessels of the [[heart]]".) Coronary heart disease causes [[plaque]] to build up inside the coronary [[Artery|arteries]]. This causes the coronary arteries to become narrower and pressure to build, forcing the heart to work harder, as well as the risk of heart attacks or blockage of the vessels.  

The heart pumps blood full of oxygen and nutrients through the arteries, working with the lungs to get it to different parts of the body. Blood that is pumped back to the heart through veins contains carbon dioxide taken out of cells to be removed from the body. The coronary arteries are very important. They supply blood to the heart muscle. So when the coronary arteries become narrower, less blood gets to the [[heart]] muscle.
==Symptoms==
Most people with coronary artery disease feel healthy for years before they start experiencing [[symptom]]s. The most common symptom is a [[heart attack]].  If it is not treated, some of the plaques in the coronary arteries can break away and block the blood flow to the heart.  Coronary artery disease is the most common cause of sudden death. It is also the most common cause of death in people over 65 years old. Men are 10 times more likely to get coronary artery disease than women.

==Atherosclerosis==
{{Main article|Atherosclerosis}}

Atherosclerosis is a form of heart disease. It causes [[fat]]ty materials (like [[cholesterol]]) to build up in the arteries, forming harder materials called plaques. This causes the arteries to become narrower. It also makes it more difficult for blood to flow through the arteries. This can cause [[blood clot]]s to form, blocking blood from traveling through the arteries.  Small pieces of plaque can also break off and block smaller blood vessels.

If an artery becomes blocked completely, it causes serious problems. All [[cell]]s, [[Tissue (biology)|tissues]], and [[Organ (anatomy)|organs]] in the body need oxygen and nutrients (carried by blood) to survive. If cells or tissues are not supplied with enough blood, they  die. (This is called [[necrosis]].) When this happens in the coronary arteries, a section of the heart dies. This can cause a myocardial infarction (a [[heart attack]]) to happen.

== Prevention ==
People can do many different things to keep themselves from getting coronary artery disease:
* They can change their [[diet]]. For example, they can eat fewer fatty foods, and take in as few [[saturated fat]]s and avoiding [[trans fat]]s as possible.
* They can eat more vegetables, fruits, [[legume]]s and [[whole grain]]s.
* They can avoid drinking [[alcohol]], and can take in less [[salt]].
* They can [[exercise]] regularly.
* They can avoid becoming overweight or [[obesity|obese]] by doing things to control their weight.

==References==

{{reflist}}

[[Category:Heart disease]]