Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a heart disease that occurs when arteries of the heart cannot deliver enough oxygen rich blood to the heart. The large coronary arteries present on the surface of the heart get affected. It is also known as coronary heart disease or ischemic heart disease.
In CAD, plaque grows within the walls of the coronary arteries until the blood flow to the heart’s muscles get limited, preventing the heart muscle from receiving enough oxygen. It can be acute or chronic. In chronic cases, gradual narrowing of the coronary artery over time reduces blood supply to the part of the heart muscle. It can occur as acute, when there is sudden rupture of plaque and formation of a blood clot. In most people, plaque buildup starts in childhood and gets worse when a person gets older.