Coronary heart disease risk

Coronary heart disease is a type of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Coronary artery disease is a form of heart disease that happens when the arteries don’t deliver adequate oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle. This happens because cholesterol deposits (known as plaque) build up in the arteries, narrowing the space through which blood can flow. Coronary artery disease is categorized in the following ways:
Obstructive coronary artery disease (diameter of large coronary artery is blocked by >50%)
Nonobstructive coronary artery disease (diameter of large coronary artery is blocked by <50%)
Coronary microvascular disease (blood flow within the tiny arteries is blocked)

‍
Coronary heart disease is the most common form of heart disease. However, experts estimate that it causes as many as 370,000 deaths in the United States alone yearly. Thankfully, the condition is preventable with lifestyle modifications and medication. With proper intervention, you can stop or even reverse plaque buildup.

‍
To assess someone’s risk and institute appropriate interventions, providers may calculate someone’s coronary heart disease risk. This risk score will estimate someone’s risk of developing coronary heart disease within the next 10 years. Similar to an ASCVD risk score, it considers factors like someone’s age, sex, smoking history, blood pressure, and cholesterol.