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What is Coronary Artery Disease?
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Coronary artery disease
(CAD) is a disease affecting the arteries that surround the heart
and supply blood to the heart muscle. When the heart muscle does
not receive enought blood flow to meet its need, pain or pressure
in the chest, arm, or jaw (angina pectoris) can result. this is
a warning sign that your heart is having difficulty, and, if left
untreated, can eventually result in a heart attack (myocardial
infarction).
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The most common cause of CAD is arteriosclerosis,
commonly called "hardening of the arteries." In arteriosclerosis,
the coronary arteries become marrowed when plaque (a combination of
cholesterol and other fats, calcium, and certain other elements carried
in the blood) builds up on the inside of the artery walls.
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Text provided by Andrew Michaels, M.D., Tony Chou, M.D., and Laura
Kee, R.N., Ph.D.,
Division of Cardiology, University of California San Francisco
Medical Illustration/Animation by www.MeristemStudios.com
Copyright © 2001 All Rights Reserved
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