Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) is the end result of the accumulation of atheromatous plaques within the walls of the coronary arteries that supply the myocardium (the muscle of the heart) with oxygen and nutrients. It is sometimes referred to as coronary heart disease (CHD).
CAD is the leading cause of death worldwide. While the symptoms and signs of CAD are noted in the advanced state of disease, most individuals with CAD show no evidence of disease for decades as the disease progresses before the onset of symptoms, often a sudden heart attack finally arises. According to present trends in the US, half of healthy 40-year old males will develop CAD in the future, and one in three healthy 40-year old women.
