Coronary heart disease, or coronary artery disease (CAD), is the No. 1 killer of men and women in the U.S., and occurs when fatty deposits accumulate along the innermost layer of the coronary arteries, which supply blood to the heart muscle. These fatty deposits narrow the arteries and can decrease or block blood flow to the heart, leading to a heart attack.

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Risk factors for CAD include high cholesterol, high blood pressure, physical inactivity, smoking, obesity, diabetes and a diet high in saturated fat. There are many treatments including medicatoin, angioplasty, and bypass surgery. The most appropriote course of treatment depends on several factors including age, overall health and medical history.

There are several ways to treat coronary artery disease:

• Medication
• Coronary Angioplasty
• Coronary Artery Bypass

Read more about coronary artery disease:

• Are You at Risk for Coronary Heart Disease?
• Debunking Heart Attack Myths
• Know These 5 Heart Attack Signs – Your Life Could Depend on It
• Unusual Fatigue May Be Sign Of Heart Attack In Women
• Heart Attacks Strike Women, Too: Life-Saving Facts to Know
• Heart Health Story: Carolyn Maupin
• Heart Health Story: Linda Vernon

Or, visit our Heart Health Library:

• Coronary Heart Disease - symptoms, diagnosis and treatment
  
• Heart Attack
• Atheroscleosis
• Women and Heart Attack

UAB Healthcast:

• New Stents Helps Prevent Future Blockage
  
• Ron Council: New Lease on Life
  
• Ron Council: ICD
  
• Cardiothoracic Surgery at UAB
• Carolyn Maupin: He Found Something Suspicious
  
• Carolyn Maupin: I Knew Something Was Wrong
  
• Carolyn Maupin: He Saved My Life
  
• Carolyn Maupin: The Silent Killer
  
• High Blood Pressure Quiz