Coronary artery disease (CAD)
A gradual furring and narrowing of the arteries that supply the heart with blood, driven by cholesterol plaque. It can cause chest pain on exertion (angina), and its most dangerous complication — when a plaque ruptures — is a heart attack. Risk is largely modifiable.
What it is
Coronary artery disease is the build-up of fatty, cholesterol-rich plaque in the walls of the coronary arteries — the vessels that supply the heart muscle itself with blood. This process, atherosclerosis, develops slowly over years, narrowing the arteries and stiffening them. When the narrowing becomes significant, the heart muscle may not get enough blood during exertion, causing the chest pain or tightness known as angina, often felt on effort and eased by rest. The most dangerous complication is sudden: if a plaque ruptures, a blood clot can form on it and abruptly block the artery, causing a heart attack (myocardial infarction). CAD is the leading cause of death worldwide, but much of its risk is modifiable. Key drivers are high LDL cholesterol (and related particles), high blood pressure, smoking, diabetes, obesity, physical inactivity, and family history, with inflammation and lipoprotein(a) adding further risk in some people. It is diagnosed and assessed through symptoms, risk-factor and lipid testing, ECGs and heart imaging (such as a CT calcium score or angiography). Treatment combines lifestyle change, medications to lower cholesterol and blood pressure and protect against clots, and, when needed, procedures to open or bypass narrowed arteries.
Key lab markers
- LDL cholesterol — a central, causal driver; lowering it reduces risk.
- Non-HDL cholesterol, apolipoprotein B, LDL particle number — refine the atherogenic burden.
- Lipoprotein(a) — an inherited, independent risk factor worth checking once.
- hs-CRP — reflects the inflammatory component of risk.
- HbA1c / glucose and blood pressure — diabetes and hypertension are major contributors.
- Troponin — used to detect heart-muscle injury when a heart attack is suspected.
Symptoms
- Chest pain, pressure or tightness, often on exertion and eased by rest (angina)
- Pain that may spread to the arm, neck, jaw or back
- Breathlessness on exertion
- Fatigue
- In some (especially women, older people and those with diabetes), atypical or few symptoms
- A heart attack may be the first sign: severe, persistent chest pain — a medical emergency
Related symptoms
Related lab panels
When to discuss with a doctor
Coronary artery disease is often silent until it causes angina or a heart attack, so much of the value lies in identifying and treating risk early. Chest pain or tightness on exertion that eases with rest should be assessed promptly, as it can be angina. Severe or persistent chest pain, especially with breathlessness, sweating, nausea, or pain spreading to the arm or jaw, may be a heart attack and is a medical emergency — call emergency services immediately. For prevention, the lipids (LDL and related markers), blood pressure, glucose, smoking status and family history together define risk, and lipoprotein(a) is worth checking once. Lowering LDL cholesterol, treating blood pressure and diabetes, stopping smoking and staying active substantially reduce risk. Mediora.AI can surface a high-risk lipid, lipoprotein(a) and inflammatory pattern that flags cardiovascular risk, but assessing and managing coronary artery disease belongs with your doctor.