Patient Education & Resources

Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)

Coronary artery disease (CAD) starts with a buildup of fatty deposits in the lining of the arteries supplying blood to the heart. Due to this process – called atherosclerosis – the narrowed arteries can't keep up a healthy flow of blood to the heart. As CAD worsens, heart function is increasingly affected. CAD is sometimes called "hardening of the arteries".