Coronary Artery Disease

A condition where the blood vessels that supply the heart become narrowed by fatty deposits, which can cause chest pain and heart attacks.

HeartChronic conditionLast updated: 21 October 2026

Quick Summary

Primary Symptoms

Chest pain or tightness (angina), especially with activity or stress, shortness of breath, and in some cases a heart attack.

Common Treatments

Lifestyle changes, medicines such as statins and blood thinners, and procedures such as stents or bypass surgery.

Risk Factors

Smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, being overweight, low activity, family history and age.

OverviewSymptomsCausesTreatmentFAQ

Overview

The coronary arteries supply the heart muscle with blood and oxygen. In coronary artery disease (CAD), also called coronary heart disease, fatty material builds up inside their walls (atherosclerosis) and narrows them.

Narrowed arteries can cause chest pain, called angina, when the heart needs more oxygen, such as during exercise. If a fatty deposit breaks open, a blood clot can block the artery and cause a heart attack.

CAD is a leading cause of death in India and worldwide, but many of its risk factors can be changed, and treatment greatly lowers the risk of a heart attack.

Symptoms

Chest pain (angina)

Pain, pressure or tightness in the chest, often triggered by exertion or stress and eased by rest.

Shortness of breath

Feeling breathless with activity.

Tiredness

Getting tired more easily during everyday activities.

Heart attack

Severe chest pain that may spread to the arm, jaw or back, with sweating or feeling sick. Call an ambulance immediately.

Causes & Risk Factors

Biological Causes

Over many years, cholesterol and other substances build up in the artery walls and form plaques. These narrow and stiffen the arteries. A plaque can crack, and a blood clot forming on it can suddenly block the artery.

Key Risk Factors

  • Smoking Smoking damages artery walls and is a major cause of heart disease.
  • High cholesterol and blood pressure Both speed up the build-up of plaque.
  • Diabetes Diabetes greatly increases the risk of heart disease.
  • Lifestyle Being overweight, inactive and eating a diet high in saturated fat and salt raise the risk.
  • Family history Heart disease in a close relative at a young age raises your risk.

Management & Treatment

01. Lifestyle changes

Stopping smoking, eating a heart-healthy diet, being active and keeping a healthy weight.

02. Medicines

Statins lower cholesterol, blood thinners help prevent clots, and other medicines control blood pressure and relieve angina.

03. Procedures

A stent (angioplasty) can open a narrowed artery, or bypass surgery can route blood around a blockage.

04. Cardiac rehabilitation

A supervised programme of exercise and education after a heart attack or procedure.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I do if I think someone is having a heart attack?
Call your local emergency number (112 in India) straight away. Don't wait to see if the pain passes.
Can coronary artery disease be reversed?
Damage can't usually be undone, but treatment and lifestyle changes can slow it down and lower the risk of a heart attack.
Is angina the same as a heart attack?
No. Angina is chest pain from reduced blood flow that usually eases with rest. A heart attack is when blood flow is blocked and heart muscle is damaged.

Sources and further reading

Last updated 21 October 2026. For more detail, see these trusted health organisations.