Plaque buildup in the walls of the coronary arteries, which provide blood to the heart and other parts of the body, results in CAD.

Deposits of cholesterol and other materials in the artery form plaque. Overtime, plaque development causes the interior of the arteries to thin, which can either completely or partially obstruct blood flow. Atherosclerosis is the name of this process.

The most prevalent sign of CAD is angina, or discomfort and pain in the chest. Angina can develop when arteries get narrowed by an excessive buildup of plaque. Because they can obstruct blood flow to your heart muscle and the rest of your body, narrowed arteries can lead to chest pain.

A heart attack is frequently the first indication that a person has CAD. Heart attack symptoms include:

1- Angina, a pain or discomfort in the chest

2- Weakness, dizziness, nausea (feeling queasy), or a cold sweat

3- Arm or shoulder ache or pain

4- Breathing difficulty

5- CAD can weaken the heart muscle over time.

Heart failure is a dangerous condition when the heart is unable to pump blood as effectively as it should. 

Risk factors for CAD include obesity, inactivity, poor diet, and tobacco use. Your chance of developing CAD is further increased by a family history of the condition, particularly if your relatives experienced heart disease at a young age (50 or younger).

Your medical team may check your blood pressure, blood cholesterol, and blood sugar levels to determine your risk for CAD.

Coronary artery disease can be diagnosed in 7 different methods:

Tests:

1- ECG or EKG (electrocardiogram): evaluates your heartbeat's electrical activity, rate, and regularity.

2- Echocardiogram: creates a picture of the heart using ultrasound, a particular type of sound wave.

3- Exercise stress test: Whilst you're walking on a treadmill, it measures your heart rate. Knowing how well your heart is functioning when it has to pump more blood is helpful.

4- Chest X-ray:creates a picture of the heart, lungs, and other chest organs using x-rays.

5- Cardiac catheterization: a thin, flexible tube is inserted into an artery in the groin, arm, or neck to the heart to inspect the interior of your arteries for blockages. In addition to taking blood samples from the heart and measuring the heart's blood pressure and blood flow, medical personnel can also inject dye into the coronary arteries of the heart to diagnose certain conditions.

6-Coronary angiogram: keeps track of blood flow through the coronary arteries and blockages. detects dye given during cardiac catheterization using X-rays.

7- Coronary artery calcium scan: A computed tomography (CT) scan that looks in the coronary arteries for calcium buildup and plaque.

Anyone recovering from a heart attack, heart failure, or other heart condition that needed surgery or medical attention should participate in cardiac rehabilitation (rehab). Cardiovascular rehabilitation can assist these people live better lives and help them avoid having another cardiac episode. A monitored regimen called cardiac rehab comprises

1- Physical exercise

2- Information on how to live a healthy lifestyle, including how to eat well, take prescribed medications, and how to stop smoking

3- Counseling to develop methods of stress relief and mental health improvement

Your health care team, fitness and nutrition specialists, physical therapists, counselors or mental health professionals, and members of your cardiac rehab team may all be able to assist you.

Your medical team may advise taking the following actions if you have CAD to lessen your risk of a heart attack or worsening heart disease:

1- Lifestyle adjustments such cutting back on fat and sodium in the diet, getting more active, getting to a healthy weight, and giving up smoking

2- Medications to address conditions like high cholesterol, high blood pressure, or an irregular heartbeat that are risk factors for CAD

3- Surgery to help the heart's blood supply is restored.