Coronary Heart Disease

Coronary heart disease is otherwise called as coronary artery disease. It refers to a condition of narrowing of the small blood vessels which supply blood and oxygen to the heart or coronary arteries.

Coronary heart disease is caused as the result of building up of fatty materials and plaque. This makes the coronary arteries to narrow down. As a result, the blood flow to the heart becomes very slow.

This disease can cause chest pain, shortness of breath, heart attack and many such diseases. It is one of the major causes of death in US. Men are much prone to the coronary heart disease after 40 years of age than women. But as women age, the risk becomes almost like men. The risk factors for CHD includes family history, male gender, old age (usually 65 and above), Smoking, high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol levels, obesity, menopause, infection of the artery wall and so on .

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