Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) /
Coronary Heart Disease (CHD)

Blood vessels supply oxygen and blood to the heart. If these vessels become narrowed or blocked, the result is coronary artery disease or CAD (also called coronary heart disease, or CHD).

Coronary artery disease, if left untreated, may damage the heart itself and lead to heart attack. That’s why coronary artery disease or coronary heart disease is the leading cause of death among both women and men in the U.S.

This cardiac condition may be caused by atherosclerosis, a build-up of fatty plaque deposits inside the artery walls. Symptoms include chest pain, breathlessness or fatigue.

Cardiovascular patients at Abington Memorial Hospital benefit from advanced technology for diagnostics and treatment. Depending upon the severity of the coronary artery disease, treatments include medications, angioplasty with stenting and coronary artery bypass surgery, which usually involves a coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) to go around the blocked area.  

Read a coronary artery disease patient’s story about exceptional care received from Abington emergency and cardiac surgery teams.

For expertise on diagnosing and treating coronary artery disease, contact the specialists at Abington’s Pilla Heart Center and Cardiothoracic Surgery.