Blockage of Vessel or Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a chronic disease in which blood flow is obstructed through the coronary arteries that supply the heart. This obstruction is caused by a disease known as atherosclerosis, which is sometimes called "hardening of the arteries." An estimated every one peron in four Indian suffer from CAD. Also referred to as coronary heart disease, CAD is the most common form of heart disease today.CAD begins when hard cholesterol substances (plaques) are deposited within a coronary artery. (The coronary arteries arise from the aorta, which is adjacent to the heart.) This causes white blood cells to gather at the site of the injury. This in turn provokes an inflammatory immune response that causes further damage to the artery wall. Over time, the endothelium is compromised and large, toxic LDL cholesterol molecules can penetrate into the artery wall. The white blood cells and cholesterol combine to form a lipid foam. The plaques can cause a tiny clot to form which can obstruct the flow of blood to the heart muscle. Symptoms of CAD include

1) chest pain (angina pectoris) from inadequate blood flow to the
heart;

2) heart attack (acute myocardial infarction), from the sudden total
blockage of a coronary artery; or

3) sudden death, due to a fatal rhythm disturbance. Untreated, CAD usually continues to worsen. Many CAD patients have symptoms such as chest pain (angina) and fatigue, which occur when the
heart isn't receiving adequate oxygen. As many as 50 percent of patients, however, have no symptoms until a heart attack occurs. Strategies to help reduce risk factors for CAD, or slow its progression if it has already begun, include: • Learning your family medical history • Eating a heart-healthy diet • Improving your cholesterol ratio • Controlling homocysteine levels • Exercising regularly • Controlling diabetes • Controlling high blood pressure • Achieving and maintaining a healthy weight • Managing stress • Quitting smoking (or not starting to smoke) • Controlling chronic depression Treatment options for CAD include medication, balloon angioplasty (with or without stenting), atherectomy and
bypass surgery.