In-Depth
Coronary artery disease
Risk factors
- LDL cholesterol calculator Use this target LDL cholesterol calculator to determine a healthy LDL cholesterol level.
- Heart disease in women: Understand symptoms and risk factors All women face the threat of heart disease. Discover how to protect your heart.
- Heart disease risk calculator Heart disease risk: Use this tool to calculate your risk of having a heart attack.
Symptoms
- Symptom Checker Use this Symptom Checker to pinpoint possible causes of your medical symptoms.
Tests and diagnosis
- Blood tests for heart disease Blood tests offer clues to your heart health. Here's information about these blood tests.
- Heart scan (coronary calcium scan) Heart scan (coronary calcium scan) — Overview covers definition, risks and results of these scans.
- Nuclear stress test Nuclear stress test — Overview covers what to expect and results of this exercise stress test.
- Stress test A stress test — Overview covers what to expect and results of this heart test.
- Positron emission tomography (PET) scan Positron emission tomography (PET) scan — Overview covers definition, risks, results of this imaging test.
- Echocardiogram Echocardiogram — Overview covers definition, risks and results of this heart-imaging test.
- Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) — Overview covers definition of this test to monitor your heartbeat.
- CT angiogram Computerized tomography (CT) angiogram — Overview covers risks and results of this heart disease test.
- Coronary angiogram Coronary angiogram — Overview covers preparation, risks and results of this heart disease test.
Causes
- Arteriosclerosis / atherosclerosis Arteriosclerosis and atherosclerosis — Comprehensive overview covers symptoms, treatment for hardening of the arteries.
- Nicotine dependence Nicotine dependence — Comprehensive overview covers symptoms, complications, treatment of this difficult-to-break addiction.
Complications
- Flu shots: Especially important if you have heart disease Flu shots are recommended for anyone with heart disease. Find out why.
- Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) Premature ventricular contractions — Comprehensive overview covers causes, diagnosis, treatment of this abnormal heart rhythm.
- Myocardial ischemia Myocardial ischemia — Comprehensive overview covers causes, symptoms and treatment of this heart disorder.
Treatments and drugs
- Niacin to boost your HDL, 'good,' cholesterol Niacin, a B vitamin, can boost your HDL, 'good,' cholesterol. Find out more.
- Heart transplant Heart transplant — Overview covers risks and results of this potentially lifesaving operation.
- Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) — Overview covers the definition and risks of implanting these devices.
- Daily aspirin therapy: Understand the benefits and risks Daily aspirin therapy can be lifesaving or life-threatening. Discover if you're a good candidate.
- Lowering cholesterol: Discover your options Discover your options for lowering cholesterol.
- Drug-eluting stents: Do they increase heart attack risk? Drug-eluting stents are generally safe if used with proper medications. Find out more.
- Angina treatment: Stents, drugs, lifestyle changes — What's best? Choosing angina treatment — stents, medications or lifestyle changes — can be confusing. Find out more.
- Coronary bypass surgery Coronary bypass surgery — Overview covers risks and results of this open-heart surgery.
Lifestyle and home remedies
- Nuts and your heart: Eating nuts for heart health Discover how walnuts, almonds and other nuts help lower cholesterol and im-prove heart health.
- Heart-healthy diet: 8 steps to prevent heart disease Ready to start your heart-healthy diet? Here are eight tips to get you started.
- Menus for heart-healthy eating: Cut the fat and salt Use these menus to jump-start your heart-healthy diet.
- Omega-3 in fish: How eating fish helps your heart Omega-3 fatty acids in fish are good for your heart. Find out more.
Prevention
- Red wine and resveratrol: Good for your heart? Red wine and something in it called resveratrol may be good for your heart.
- 5 medication-free strategies to help prevent heart disease Heart disease prevention — five strategies you can adopt now to protect your heart.
- Omega-3 in fish: How eating fish helps your heart Omega-3 fatty acids in fish are good for your heart. Find out more.


Find Mayo Clinic on