Coronary heart disease

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Acute MI	Anterior heart arteries	Cholesterol producers	Heart, front view
Heart, section through the middle	Posterior heart arteries

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is a narrowing of the small blood vessels that supply blood and oxygen to the heart. CHD is also called coronary artery disease.

Coronary artery disease; Arteriosclerotic heart disease; CHD; CAD

Coronary heart disease usually results from the build-up of fatty material and plaque, a condition called atherosclerosis. As the coronary arteries narrow, the flow of blood to the heart can slow or stop, causing chest pain (stable angina), shortness of breath, heart attack, or other symptoms.

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the leading cause of death in the United States for men and women. According to the American Heart Association, some one in the United States has a CHD-related event about every 29 seconds. Every minute someone dies from one.

The risk of CHD after age 40 is 49% for men and 32% for women. As women get older, the risk increases so that it is almost equal to a man's risk. (See also heart disease and women.)

There are many factors that increase your risk for CHD. Some risks are based on family history (genetics). Others are more controllable. Risk factors include:

• Family history of coronary heart disease (especially before age 50)
• Male gender
• Age (65 and greater)
• Tobacco smoking
• High blood pressure
• Diabetes
• High cholesterol levels (specifically, high LDL cholesterol and low HDL cholesterol)
• Lack of physical activity or exercise
• Obesity
• Higher-than-normal markers of inflammation
• High blood homocysteine levels
• Menopause

Review Date: 08/28/2006
Reviewed By: Steven Kang, MD, Division of Cardiac Pacing and Electrophysiology, East Bay Arrhythmia, Cardiovascular Consultants Medical Group, Oakland, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.