Atherosclerosis and Coronary Artery Disease

Atherosclerosis, a hardening of the body's arteries, is called coronary artery disease when it occurs in the coronary arteries. CAD is a leading cause of death of both men and women in the United States, but it can be effectively treated with lifestyle changes and medication.

Significance

• Coronary artery disease (CAD) often leads to heart attack and stroke. According to the American Heart Association, in 2005, heart attacks accounted for one in every five deaths in the United States. Thirty-seven percent of people who experience a heart attack die from it.

Identification

• In CAD-related atherosclerosis, a buildup of substances (fat, cholesterol, calcium and others) clog the interior lining of the arteries leading to the heart. Artherosclerosis can also become carotid artery disease (affecting the carotid arteries) or peripheral artery disease (affecting the pelvis, legs and arms).

Heredity

• Coronary artery disease and atherosclerosis develops more often in those with a family history of the affliction. African-American, Hispanic-American, Native-American, Native-Hawaiian and some Asian-American groups are at higher risk than caucasians.

Prevention/Solution

• Changes in lifestyle can prevent and treat CAD and atherosclerosis. "Eating a healthy diet, staying fit with the right kind of exercise, and not smoking are the best ways to prevent CAD," according to the University of Michigan Health System.

Considerations

• Gender and age both play large roles in coronary artery disease. "Over 83 percent of people who die of coronary heart disease are 65 or older," says the American Heart Association. Males experience heart attacks more often than females, although females have a higher likelihood of dying from heart attacks.