Facts about Coronary
Artery Disease
Angina and
Heart Attack
CAD is the leading cause of death in
the United States for both men and
women.
Coronary Artery
Disease (CAD)
There are usually no symptoms until
arteries are at least 60% blocked.
Heart attacks occur due to a lack of
blood supply to the heart muscle,
resulting in part of the heart muscle
being damaged or dying.
As you age, all arteries become less
elastic, and fatty layers can build up
along the walls of the arteries. Damage
is done to the first layer of the artery and
extends into the second layer.
Causes of a heart attack include:
• Spasm
Some plaques are stable — building
up slowly over time. Other plaques are
unstable and may rupture, with clotting
on top of the rupture.
• Blood clot on top of ruptured
plaque
• Buildup of plaque
Atherosclerosis, or plaque buildup, and
stenosis, which means constriction or
narrowing of the artery, lead to coronary
artery disease.
Atherosclerosis
Certain factors may increase the risk of
atherosclerosis:
Elevated cholesterol and
triglyceride levels
Obesity
High blood pressure
Physical inactivity
Smoking
Stress
Diabetes
Unhealthy diet
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