Coronary heart disease or coronary artery disease, also referred to as CHD or CAD, is a grave form of the condition called atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries). It develops due to the deposits of LDL or the bad cholesterol on the wall of the artery. This ultimately results in a buildup of fatty deposits called plaque.

Due to this the artery becomes narrower and doesn’t allow sufficient amount of blood to pass through to the heart causing the chest pain of angina. That’s not all; if plaque breaks off, it triggers the formation of a blood clot on its surface, which in turn cuts off the blood supply to the heart muscles. The result is a heart attack because the blocked blood supply killed vital cells.

CHD affects several hundred million people across the world and is one of the leading causes of death in men and women. However, not everyone is vulnerable to the condition; for instance, men develop CHD about 10 years earlier than women. 

Risk factors ?

How does Atherosclerosis develop ?