Coronary Heart Disease

Patients with coronary heart disease have a dangerous accumulation of plaque within the arteries that lead to their heart. Over time, this accumulation causes the arteries to harden and narrow in a condition called atherosclerosis, and can lead to a partial or complete blockage of an artery due to a blood clot. Symptoms of narrowed or blocked arteries can include chest pain, nausea, pressure in the chest, heart arrhythmia, a heart attack or heart failure. Treatments for coronary heart disease include lifestyle modifications with regard to diet, exercise and smoking cessation; prescription medications; angioplasty to unblock a narrowed artery; coronary artery bypass grafting surgery; and cardiac rehabilitation therapy.