On this page

Basics

• Summary
• Start Here
• Diagnosis and Tests
• Prevention and Risk Factors
• Treatments and Therapies

Learn More

• Living With
• Related Issues
• Specifics
• Genetics

See, Play and Learn

• Videos and Tutorials
• Test Your Knowledge

Research

• Clinical Trials
• Journal Articles

Resources

• Reference Desk
• Find an Expert

For You

• Women
• Older Adults
• Patient Handouts

Summary

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the most common type of heart disease. It is the leading cause of death in the United States in both men and women.

CAD happens when the arteries that supply blood to heart muscle become hardened and narrowed. This is due to the buildup of cholesterol and other material, called plaque, on their inner walls. This buildup is called atherosclerosis. As it grows, less blood can flow through the arteries. As a result, the heart muscle can't get the blood or oxygen it needs. This can lead to chest pain (angina) or a heart attack. Most heart attacks happen when a blood clot suddenly cuts off the hearts' blood supply, causing permanent heart damage.

Over time, CAD can also weaken the heart muscle and contribute to heart failure and arrhythmias. Heart failure means the heart can't pump blood well to the rest of the body. Arrhythmias are changes in the normal beating rhythm of the heart.

NIH: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

Start Here

• Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish
• Coronary Artery Disease - Coronary Heart Disease (American Heart Association)
• What Is Coronary Heart Disease? (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute) Also in Spanish

Diagnosis and Tests

• Cardiovascular Disease Risk: Screening With Electrocardiography (U.S. Preventive Services Task Force) - PDF
• Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography (CCTA) (American College of Radiology; Radiological Society of North America) Also in Spanish
• Heart Health Tests: MedlinePlus Health Topic (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
• hs-CRP Test (C-Reactive Protein High-Sensitivity)
• Intravascular Ultrasound (Texas Heart Institute) Also in Spanish

Prevention and Risk Factors

• How to Prevent Heart Disease: MedlinePlus Health Topic (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish

Treatments and Therapies

• Angioplasty: MedlinePlus Health Topic (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
• Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery: MedlinePlus Health Topic (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
• Coronary Artery Disease: Angioplasty or Bypass Surgery? (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
• Heart Procedures and Surgeries (American Heart Association)
• What Are Stents? (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute) Also in Spanish

Living With

• Cardiac Rehabilitation: MedlinePlus Health Topic (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
• What You Need to Know if You Have Coronary Artery Disease (American Heart Association)

Related Issues

• Drug-Eluting Stents: Do They Increase Heart Attack Risk? (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
• Vulnerable Plaque (Texas Heart Institute) Also in Spanish

Specifics

• Acute Coronary Syndrome (American Heart Association)
• Myocardial Ischemia (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
• What Is Atherosclerosis? (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute) Also in Spanish

Genetics

• Werner syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)

Videos and Tutorials

• Coronary artery disease (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish

Test Your Knowledge

• Coronary Artery Disease Quiz (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Coronary Artery Disease (National Institutes of Health)

Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

• Article: A randomised trial of sirolimus- versus paclitaxel-coated balloons for de novo...
• Article: Ten-year survival benefit and appropriateness of surgical versus percutaneous revascularization in...
• Article: Outcomes with revascularisation versus conservative management of participants with 3-vessel coronary...
• Coronary Artery Disease -- see more articles

Reference Desk

• Coronary Arteries (Texas Heart Institute) Also in Spanish
• Heart Information Center (Texas Heart Institute) Also in Spanish
• How the Heart Works (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute) Also in Spanish

Find an Expert

• American Heart Association
• National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

Women

• Heart Disease in Women: MedlinePlus Health Topic (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish

Older Adults

• Coronary Artery Disease (Heart Attack) (American Geriatrics Society)

Patient Handouts

• Acute coronary syndrome (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Angioplasty and stent - heart - discharge (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Angioplasty and stent placement - heart (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Coronary angiography (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Coronary artery spasm (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Coronary heart disease (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish