Coronary artery disease (CAD), also known as coronary heart disease (CHD) or ischemic heart disease (IHD), involves the reduction of blood flow to the heart muscle due to build-up of plaque in the arteries of the heart. It is the most common of the cardiovascular diseases.Types include stable angina, unstable angina, myocardial infarction, and sudden cardiac death.A common symptom is chest pain or discomfort which may travel into the shoulder, arm, back, neck, or jaw.Occasionally it may feel like heartburn. Usually symptoms occur with exercise or emotional stress, last less than a few minutes, and improve with rest. Shortness of breath may also occur and sometimes no symptoms are present.In many cases, the first sign is a heart attack.Other complications include heart failure or an abnormal heartbeat.