<P> Coronary artery disease (CAD), also known as ischemic heart disease (IHD), is a group of diseases that includes: stable angina, unstable angina, myocardial infarction, and sudden cardiac death . It is within the group of cardiovascular diseases of which it is the most common type . A common symptom is chest pain or discomfort which may travel into the shoulder, arm, back, neck, or jaw . Occasionally it may feel like heartburn . Usually symptoms occur with exercise or emotional stress, last less than a few minutes, and get better with rest . Shortness of breath may also occur and sometimes no symptoms are present . The first sign is occasionally a heart attack . Other complications include heart failure or an irregular heartbeat . </P> <P> Risk factors include: high blood pressure, smoking, diabetes, lack of exercise, obesity, high blood cholesterol, poor diet, depression, and excessive alcohol . The underlying mechanism involves reduction of blood flow and oxygen due to atherosclerosis of the arteries of the heart . A number of tests may help with diagnoses including: electrocardiogram, cardiac stress testing, coronary computed tomographic angiography, and coronary angiogram, among others . </P> <P> Prevention is by eating a healthy diet, regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight and not smoking . Sometimes medication for diabetes, high cholesterol, or high blood pressure are also used . There is limited evidence for screening people who are at low risk and do not have symptoms . Treatment involves the same measures as prevention . Additional medications such as antiplatelets including aspirin, beta blockers, or nitroglycerin may be recommended . Procedures such as percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) may be used in severe disease . In those with stable CAD it is unclear if PCI or CABG in addition to the other treatments improve life expectancy or decreases heart attack risk . </P> <P> In 2015 CAD affected 110 million people and resulted in 8.9 million deaths . It makes up 15.9% of all deaths making it the most common cause of death globally . The risk of death from CAD for a given age has decreased between 1980 and 2010, especially in developed countries . The number of cases of CAD for a given age has also decreased between 1990 and 2010 . In the United States in 2010 about 20% of those over 65 had CAD, while it was present in 7% of those 45 to 64, and 1.3% of those 18 to 45 . Rates are higher among men than women of a given age . </P>

An occlusion of a coronary artery is known as a