There are numerous problems associated with coronary artery disease. According to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, or NHLBI--a division of the National Institutes of Health--coronary artery disease, or CAD, is the most common type of heart disease--and the leading cause of death among both men and women--in the United States. The NHLBI notes that lifestyle changes can help prevent or treat CAD in most people.
Atherosclerosis
According to the American Heart Association, or AHA, atherosclerosis is the process in which substances--including cholesterol, metabolic byproducts and calcium, among others--accumulate on the inner walls of an artery. This accumulation on arterial walls is called plaque, and it typically affects large and medium-sized arteries. The AHA states that CAD results when sufficient plaque accumulates on the inner walls of the coronary arteries, or the arteries that feed blood to the heart. Although plaques can occlude or block blood flow and place stress on the cardiovascular system, plaque ruptures can cause significantly more damage to a person's organs and health. According to the AHA, ruptured plaques cause blood clot formation that can impede blood flow to the heart, brain and other vital organs.
Angina
MedlinePlus states that angina is chest pain or discomfort associated with insufficient heart blood flow, and that angina-related chest pain may feel like pressure or squeezing in the chest. Angina may also cause pain in the shoulders, arms, neck, jaw or back, and may mimic symptoms associated with indigestion. According to MayoClinic.com, angina is one of the most common symptoms of CAD, and there are two principle types of angina: stable and unstable. Stable angina is characterized by persistent, recurring chest pain or discomfort that's brought on by physical exertion or exercise. Stable angina-related symptoms disappear with rest. Unstable angina, however, involves a sudden, new chest pain, or a change in familiar chest pain, that's not related to physical exertion. MayoClinic.com states that unstable angina may be an indication of an impending heart attack.
Arrhythmias
According to the Cleveland Clinic, arrhythmias are irregular or abnormal heartbeats, and there are five principle types of arrhythmias, including tachycardia, or a fast heart rhythm; bradycardia, or a slow heart rhythm; supraventricular arrhythmias, or arrhythmias that begin in the atria, or the heart's upper chambers; ventricular arrhythmias, or arrhythmias that begin in the ventricles or the heart's lower chambers; and bradyarrhythmias, or slow heart rhythms caused by problems in the conduction system. The Cleveland Clinic states that common causes of arrhythmia include CAD, hypertension or elevated blood pressure, changes in heart muscle function, heart valve problems, electrolyte imbalances and heart attack, among others.
