Your heart couldn’t do its job properly without the army of arteries and blood that supports it. One example is the coronary arteries, which surround the heart and act like fuel lines to supply it with oxygen-rich blood. When these arteries become diseased or damaged, it affects the flow of blood to the heart. This is known as coronary artery disease (CAD).
References
American College of Cardiology. (2021). Coronary artery disease.
American College of Cardiology. (2016). Coronary artery disease: infographic.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). Coronary artery disease.
National Heart, Blood, and Lung Institute. (2023). What is coronary heart disease?
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Written by:
Lauren Smith, MALauren Smith, MA, has worked in health journalism since 2017. Before joining GoodRx, she was the senior health editor and writer for HealthiNation.

Reviewed by:
Mera Goodman, MD, FAAPMera Goodman, MD, FAAP, is a board-certified pediatrician. Prior to practicing medicine, she worked as a management consultant.










