Coronary heart disease (CHD), also known as coronary artery disease (CAD) and atherosclerotic heart disease, is the result of accrual of atheromatous plaques (an abnormal inflammatory accrual of the macrophage white blood cells) within the walls of the arteries.

The symptoms and signs of coronary heart disease can only be noted in the progressed state of the disease. Most people who experience from coronary heart disease can have no evidence of its existence for long periods of time before they have a stroke.

Causes of Coronary Heart Disease

- Family history of coronary heart disease
- Males are more prone to this particular disease
- Being 65-years-old or greater
- Smoking
- High blood pressure
- Diabetes
- Lack of physical behavior
- Menopause in women
- Infection that causes irritation of the artery wall

Symptoms leading to coronary heart disease may not always be easily readable, as many live with clogged arteries for years before they realize they have a difficulty. Usually people suffering from coronary heart disease walk in the emergency room with a heart attack on their hands.

Here are several of the symptoms that could help you recognize this disease:

- Chest pain
- Shortness of breath

As prevention is always better then treatment, one should try and have regular check ups and follow the doctor’s advice. Knowing in time that you are likely to have a heart problem may save you from being faced with an emergency situation, which can sometimes turn to be fatal.

Preventing Coronary Heart Disease

Coronary heart disease is the most common of heart diseases in the western world. Here are several ways to prevent ever suffering from it in the near future:

- Reduce your cholesterol level.
- Maintain your ideal body weight – obesity is one of the main factors of coronary heart disease.
- If you are a smoker, this is yet another reason you should stop smoking.
- Have a healthy diet and exercise – some doctors strongly recommend diets rich in omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin C.

Proper diet and exercise have always been the key to maintaining one’s health, and for centuries man has practiced this as being the best ordinary medicine.

Health is our most precious possession, which regularly cannot be bought back once lost. One should try to make an effort to maintain what we naturally have – good health; as an old saying goes ‘health is wealth’ after all, treasure it while you still have it.

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