Section 1: What Is Coronary Artery Disease?
Your heart muscle needs a constant supply of oxygen-rich blood to function. This blood is delivered through three major coronary arteries that run along the surface of your heart. Coronary artery disease (CAD) occurs when these arteries become narrowed or blocked by a buildup of plaque — a combination of cholesterol, inflammatory cells, calcium, and fibrous tissue — inside the artery wall. This process is called atherosclerosis, and it develops silently over decades.
As blockages grow, they restrict blood flow to the heart muscle. The result can be:
SYMPTOM
Angina
Chest pressure, tightness, or discomfort — especially with exertion — when the heart muscle is not getting enough oxygen.
SYMPTOM
Shortness of breath with activity
EVENT
Heart attack (myocardial infarction)
When a blockage becomes complete, cutting off blood flow entirely to a portion of heart muscle.
CABG surgery is performed when blockages are too severe or too numerous for less invasive treatments (such as stents placed during a catheterization procedure) to safely address.