Your Health
What is Coronary Artery Disease?
Coronary Artery Disease describes the process of plaque formation that occurs inside the coronary arteries. This is also known as cardiovascular disease or heart disease. Normal arteries are soft, smooth, and elastic. Over time, and due to certain factors such as diet and heredity, these arteries can become hardened and built up with fatty deposts called plaque. This plaque buildup inside the artery prevents enough blood from reaching the heart muscle and can cause chest pain, called angina, or a heart attack to occur.
Risk Factors
The more risk factors that apply to you, the higher you are at risk for developing heart disease. Risk factors are habits of characteristics that increase a person's chance of developing blockage in the coronary arteries. There are some risks, such as age, that you can't do much about. But if you reduce the risks you can control, you may be able to prevent heart and blood vessel problems.
Estimate your 10-year risk for Coronary Heart Disease
Calculate your risk by clicking here.
Calculate your BMI or body mass index
Click here to calculate your BMI.
Uncontrollable Risk Factors
Family History (including race)
Gender
Age
Controllable Risk Factors
Smoking
High Cholesterol
High Blood Pressure
Diabetes
Stress
Being Overweight
Physical Inactivity
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