What happens when someone gets coronary artery disease?

Varies: Some remain asymptomatic and have normal lives. Others develop angina. Some ar complicated with heart attacks.

Many changes: Coronary artery disease is essentially the change in blood flow to the heart as the result of narrowing of the coronary arteries. Some narrowing is tolerated - the body has an amazing ability to compensate - but too much narrowing restricts blood flow too much, causing the heart muscle to be starved for oxygen and nutrients. At its worst, this can lead to muscle death - a heart attack.