What is coronary artery disease?

    Researchedby:
    Gregory Lopez

    Fact-checked

    by:

    Shyam Jayaraman
    Last Updated: October 25, 2023

    Coronary artery disease (CAD; sometimes called coronary heart disease, or CHD) is the most common kind of heart disease. It happens when the arteries that feed blood to the heart muscles harden and get clogged through atherosclerosis. This process starves the heart of the oxygen and nutrients it needs to function well. Worsening CAD can lead to permanent heart damage and ultimately death. [1]