Coronary Heart Diseases
Coronary heart disease is often called coronary artery disease, which means the narrowing of the coronary arteries or the buildup of plaque in the arteries. The coronary arteries are the blood vessels that supply oxygen and blood to the heart. The coronary arteries are vital: blood is carried to the coronary arteries by the heart muscle. So, as the coronary arteries narrow, blood flow to the muscles of the heart decreases. A common symptom is chest pain or discomfort that can spread to the shoulder, arm, back, neck, or jaw. Irregularly, it may feel like heartburn. Usually, symptoms occur with exercise or emotional stress, last less than a few minutes, and improve with rest. Shortness of breath may also occur and sometimes no symptoms are present. In many cases, the first sign is a heart attack. Other complications include heart failure or abnormal heart rhythm.