Why is Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) an emerging public health issue?
Coronary artery disease (CAD), the most common form of heart disease, affects some 7 million Americans. It is the number one cause of death of both men and women in the United States, as more than half a million people die from it each year. Many people who have this form of heart disease may not be aware they have it. Coronary artery disease can begin as early as childhood and teenage years, and silently develop over a lifetime. The public health implications of this disease are tremendous. Recognizing and controlling certain risk factors remains the key to preventing illness and death from CAD. What causes CAD? CHD occurs when one or more coronary arteries (Fig. 1) which transport oxygen-rich blood to the heart become clogged, reducing blood flow to the heart. Problems develop when deposits of fat, cholesterol, and other substances (collectively called plaque) buildup inside the coronary arteries (Fig. 2). This progressive accumulation of plaque called artherosclerosis is commonly re
