1. Coronary artery disease (CAD), also known as ischemic heart disease, is caused by the narrowing of the coronary arteries due to atherosclerosis. Risk factors include smoking, hypertension, diabetes, and high cholesterol. 2. Symptoms of CAD include chest pain and shortness of breath. Left untreated, CAD can lead to damage of the heart muscle, arrhythmias, heart attack, or heart failure. 3. Diagnosis of chronic CAD involves medical history, physical exam, electrocardiogram, stress tests, coronary angiography, CT angiography, and cardiac MRI to evaluate the heart and blood flow in the coronary arteries.