[3] It is the most common form of cardiovascular disease, and is the leading cause of death in the United States, affecting 18 million adults.

[6] Common heart attack symptoms include chest pain or angina, pain or discomfort that spreads to the shoulder, arm, back, neck jaw, teeth or the upper belly, cold sweats, fatigue, heartburn, nausea, shortness of breath, or lightheadedness.

[6] Coronary occlusion is caused by the buildup of fats, cholesterol and other substances in and on the walls of the hearts arteries.

[7] Plaque often starts building up during childhood and is heavily influence by genetics, but also lifestyle and high blood cholesterol.

[6] Conditions that aid in the development of coronary artery disease are diabetes or insulin resistance, high blood pressure, sedentary lifestyle, and smoking or tobacco use.

[8] Plaque is caused by fatty deposits and scar tissue that cling to the walls of coronary arteries.

[9] The development of plaque takes years and leads to stenosis of the coronary arteries and progressively reduces blood flow.

[8] Due to the slower development of this condition, the body will adapt and create small blood vessels that circumvent the blockage.

[8] When a plaque has a greater than 50% diameter stenosis, the reduced blood flow through the coronary artery during exertion may lead to angina.

[11] Screenings should begin in childhood if one has risk factors such as obesity, sedentary lifestyle, or a family history of heart conditions.

[11] Healthcare providers will run blood tests to check for cholesterol, triglycerides, lipoproteins, sugar, or proteins that are a sign of inflammation.

[12] Some medications may be prescribed for other risk factors for heart disease like blood sugar and obesity such as empagliflozin, canagliflozin, metformin, liraglutide, orlistat, and semaglutide.

[1] In 1912, James Herrick published an article in JAMA documenting his findings on coronary occlusion in animals.