Illustrated Guide to Coronary Artery Disease
What Is CAD?
Coronary artery disease (CAD) starts with a buildup of fatty deposits in the lining of the arteries supplying blood to the heart. Due to this process -- called atherosclerosis -- the narrowed arteries can't keep up a healthy flow of blood to the heart. As CAD worsens, heart function is increasingly affected. CAD is sometimes called "hardening of the arteries."
Symptoms of CAD
Many patients with CAD have few -- if any -- symptoms until their heart function is seriously affected. Symptoms of CAD include:
- chest pain (angina)
- shortness of breath
- weakness and fatigue
- palpitations (sensations of fluttering heartbeats)
- lightheadedness
Reviewed by Matthew Hoffman, MD on October 28, 2008
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