Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a condition that affects your coronary arteries, which supply blood to your heart. With CAD, plaque buildup narrows or blocks one or more of your coronary arteries. Chest discomfort (angina) is the most common symptom. CAD can lead to a heart attack or other complications like arrhythmia or heart failure.
Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a narrowing or blockage of your coronary arteries, usually due to plaque buildup. Your coronary arteries supply oxygen-rich blood to your heart. Plaque buildup in these arteries limits how much blood can reach your heart.
Picture two traffic lanes that merge into one due to construction. Traffic keeps flowing, just more slowly. With CAD, you might not notice anything is wrong until the plaque triggers a blood clot. The blood clot is like a concrete barrier in the middle of the road. Traffic stops. Similarly, blood can’t reach your heart, and this causes a heart attack.
You might have CAD for many years and not have any symptoms until you experience a heart attack. That’s why CAD is a “silent killer.”
Other names for CAD include coronary heart disease (CHD) and ischemic heart disease. It’s also what most people mean when they use the general term “heart disease.”
There are two main forms of coronary artery disease:
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Coronary artery disease is very common. Over 18 million adults in the U.S. have coronary artery disease. That’s roughly the combined populations of New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago and Houston.
In 2019, coronary artery disease killed 360,900 people in the U.S. That’s enough people to fill Yankee Stadium more than seven times.
Coronary artery disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S. and around the world. This is true for men and people assigned male at birth (AMAB), as well as women and people assigned female at birth (AFAB).
In the U.S., coronary artery disease affects nearly 1 in 10 people aged 40 to 80. About 1 in 5 deaths from CAD occur in people under age 65.
The main complication of coronary artery disease is a heart attack. This is a medical emergency that can be fatal. Your heart muscle starts to die because it’s not receiving enough blood. You need prompt medical attention to restore blood flow to your heart and save your life.
Over the years, CAD can also weaken your heart and lead to complications, including:
You may have no symptoms of coronary artery disease for a long time. CAD is a chronic condition. Plaque buildup takes many years, even decades. But as your arteries narrow, you may notice mild symptoms. These symptoms indicate your heart is pumping harder to deliver oxygen-rich blood to your body.
Symptoms of chronic CAD include:
Sometimes, the first symptom of CAD is a heart attack. Symptoms of a heart attack include:
Women and people AFAB are more likely to have additional, atypical symptoms that include:
Atherosclerosis causes coronary artery disease. Atherosclerosis is the gradual buildup of plaque in arteries throughout your body. When the plaque affects blood flow in your coronary arteries, you have coronary artery disease.
Plaque consists of cholesterol, waste products, calcium and fibrin (a substance that helps your blood clot). As plaque continues to collect along your artery walls, your arteries become narrow and stiff.
Plaque can clog or damage your arteries, which limits or stops blood flow to a certain part of your body. When plaque builds up in your coronary arteries, your heart muscle can’t receive enough blood. So, your heart can’t get the oxygen and nutrients it needs to work properly. This condition is called myocardial ischemia. It leads to chest discomfort (angina) and puts you at risk for a heart attack.
People who have plaque buildup in their coronary arteries often have buildup elsewhere in their body, too. This can lead to conditions like carotid artery disease and peripheral artery disease.
There are many risk factors for coronary artery disease. Some you can’t control. Others you may be able to control by making lifestyle changes or taking medications. Talk with your provider about the risk factors listed below and how you can manage them.
Healthcare providers diagnose coronary artery disease through a physical exam and testing.
During your physical exam, your provider will:
All of this information will help your provider determine your risk for heart disease.
Your provider may also recommend one or more tests to assess your heart function and diagnose CAD. These include:
Treatment for CAD often includes lifestyle changes, risk factor management and medications. Some people may also benefit from a procedure or surgery.
Your healthcare provider will talk with you about the best treatment plan for you. It’s important to follow your treatment plan so you can lower your risk of serious complications from CAD.
Lifestyle changes play a big role in managing CAD. Such changes include:
Be sure to talk with your provider before starting any new exercise program. Your provider can also offer guidance on lifestyle changes tailored to your needs. Your provider may recommend meeting with a dietitian to discuss healthy eating plans and smoking cessation options.
Managing your risk factors for CAD can help slow down the progression of your disease. Work with your provider to manage the following conditions:
Medications can help you manage your risk factors plus treat symptoms of coronary artery disease. Your provider may prescribe one or more of the medications listed below.
Some people need a procedure or surgery to manage coronary artery disease, including:
Your provider will recommend which of these treatment options would be best in your unique case.
You can’t always prevent coronary artery disease. That’s because some risk factors are out of your control. But there’s a lot you can do to lower your risk. Many strategies to lower your risk also help manage your condition once you’re diagnosed.
You can lower your risk of coronary artery disease and help prevent it from getting worse by doing the following:
Your provider is the best person to ask about your prognosis. Outcomes vary based on the person. Your provider will look at the big picture, including your age, medical conditions, risk factors and symptoms. Lifestyle changes and other treatments can improve your chances of a good prognosis.
Coronary artery disease can’t be cured. But you can manage your condition and prevent it from getting worse. Work with your healthcare provider and follow your treatment plan. Doing so will give you the strongest possible chance of living a long and healthy life.
The most important thing you can do is keep up with your treatment plan. This may include lifestyle changes and medications. It may also involve a procedure or surgery and the necessary recovery afterward.
Along with treatment, your provider may recommend cardiac rehab. A cardiac rehab program is especially helpful for people recovering from a heart attack or living with heart failure. Cardiac rehab can help you with exercise, dietary changes and stress management.
A CAD diagnosis may cause you to think about your heart and arteries more than ever before. This can be exhausting and overwhelming. You may worry a lot about your symptoms or what might happen to you. It’s not surprising that many people with coronary artery disease experience depression and anxiety. You’re living with a condition that can be life-threatening. It’s normal to worry.
But the worry shouldn’t consume your daily life. You can still thrive and live an active, happy life while having heart disease. If your diagnosis is affecting your mental health, talk with a counselor. Find a support group where you can meet people who share your concerns. Don’t feel you need to keep it all inside or be strong for others. CAD is a life-changing diagnosis. It’s OK to devote time to processing it all and figuring out how to feel better both physically and emotionally.
Your provider will tell you how often you need to come in for testing or follow-ups. You may have appointments with specialists (like a cardiologist) in addition to your primary care visits.
Call your provider if you:
If you haven’t been diagnosed with coronary artery disease, consider asking:
If you have coronary artery disease, some helpful questions include:
Call 911 or your local emergency number if you have symptoms of a heart attack or stroke. These are life-threatening medical emergencies that require immediate care. It may be helpful to print out the symptoms and keep them where you can see them. Also, share the symptoms with your family and friends so they can call 911 for you if needed.
A note from Cleveland Clinic
Learning you have coronary artery disease can cause a mix of emotions. You may feel confused about how this could happen. You may feel sad or wish you’d done some things differently to avoid this diagnosis. But this is a time to look forward, not backward. Let go of any guilt or blame you feel. Instead, commit to building a plan to help your heart, beginning today.
Work with your provider to adopt lifestyle changes that feel manageable to you. Learn about treatment options, including medications, and how they support your heart health. Tell your family and friends about your goals and how they can help you. This is your journey, but you don’t have to do it alone.
Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 08/19/2022.
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Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy