Coronary artery disease is a buildup of plaque in the arteries that leads to narrowing of the blood vessels that supply blood and oxygen to the heart.

It is the leading cause of death in the United States for men and women, with more than 3 million cases being diagnosed annually.

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Signs & Symptoms

In some cases, symptoms of coronary artery disease may be very noticeable. In other cases, you can have the disease and not have any symptoms.

Chest pain or discomfort is the most common symptom. This pain occurs when the heart is not getting enough blood or oxygen. The pain may feel different from person to person.

Some people have symptoms other than chest pain, such as:

• Fatigue
• Shortness of breath
• General weakness

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Diagnosis

A Deborah Specialty Physician may order the following tests:

• Coronary angiography
• Electrocardiogram (ECG)
• Electron-beam computed tomography (EBCT)
• Exercise stress test
• Heart CT scan
• Nuclear stress test