Health Articles > Conditions-and-diseases > Coronary Artery Heart Disease and Risk factors

Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) (or atherosclerotic heart disease) is a serious heart condition and the number one killer of both men and women in the United States today. It is a disease that involves a narrowing of the blood vessels that supply blood, oxygen and other nutrients to the muscle of the heart. It may seem strange if you haven't studied anatomy and physiology, but even though the heart has blood flowing through it constantly, this blood does not supply oxygen and nutrients to the muscle of the heart.

The coronary vascular system contains 3 main arteries ? the Left Anterior Descending artery, the Circumflex artery and the Right Coronary Artery ? these arteries branch off into multiple smaller arteries that supply blood to the areas further away from the main arteries. Coronary artery disease can affect both the large vessels and the small vessels.

If you can recognize and reduce the risk factors for Coronary artery disease then you can help prevent it. Factors such as obesity, lack of activity, smoking, diabetes, hypertension, and cholesterol levels can be changes or at least controlled to help you live healthier. Other factors like age, gender and family history can't be controlled, but should make you work harder to keep from having any other risk factors. Most often coronary artery disease is a result of atherosclerosis, or fat and deposit build up inside your blood vessels which restricts the movement of blood through your system.

Blood vessels usually have the ability to stretch to let more blood through, but those who suffer from coronary artery disease lose this ability. Then when plaque build up inside the vessels is added in when the heart really needs the blood, such as when you exercise it will not get it.

As blood flow is restricted in the smaller vessels to the heart you may become aware of some off and on chest pain, which is called angina. Resting and de-stressing will usually relieve the pain, as can medication. However, the more often this happens the more likely that these attacks will leave behind damage heart muscle, which can never be repaired. If one of your arteries becomes blocked then this could result in a heart attack, or heart failure.

If you think that you are at risk for coronary artery disease then you should consult your doctor for treatment options. There are many ways to treat this disease, from lifestyle changes to medication to surgery.