Coronary heart disease or coronary heart disease affects 16.8 million people in the United States and causes more than 607,000 deaths per year (Lemone, chap. 30). It is caused by atherosclerosis, which is a buildup of fatty deposits in the arteries leading to impaired blood flow to the myocardium. Coronary artery disease or coronary artery syndrome is usually asymptomatic but can cause heart attack, angina, and acute coronary syndrome if not properly treated. There are many risk factors associated with CHD, such as obesity, high cholesterol diet, heredity, physical inactivity, to name a few. Patients with CAD may be unable to identify and manage their risk factors. It is imperative that nurses educate the patient about coronary artery disease and measures to improve their health. Atherosclerosis is the most common cause of coronary artery disease. Atherosclerosis is a progressive disease characterized by fatty deposits in the arteries, which block the normal passage of blood. No one knows exactly how atherosclerosis develops. Plaque is made up primarily of cholesterol, phospholipids, and smooth muscle cells. They also reduce the size of the lumen of the affected artery, which impairs the blood flow of that artery and could later form a thrombus that completely obstructs the vessel. “Unfortunately, the signs and symptoms of atherosclerosis generally do not develop until at least 70% of the lumen of an artery is blocked. Angina is almost always the first symptom to appear. »(Newspaper: The Killer Behind CAD, 2010). Modifiable factors that could prevent the onset of CHD include smoking, obesity, physical inactivity, an atherogenic diet such as a high-cholesterol diet, use of contraceptives, and replacement of hormonal therapy. “Women continue to... middle of paper ... smoking, high-cholesterol diets, age, gender, sedentary lifestyle, contraceptives, and hormone replacement therapy. Nurses can fill important treatment gaps in managing the risk factors of patients with coronary heart disease. “Cardiac rehabilitation programs, including nursing education, have a beneficial effect on patients' quality of life, exercise capacity, lipid profile, body mass index, weight, blood pressure, their resting heart rate, survival rate, mortality rate and reduction in risk factors for myocardial infarction. » (Journal of Health Sciences, 2012). Healthcare professionals should discuss therapeutic lifestyle changes with patients, emphasizing the role of diet in heart disease. Nurses should provide information and education about cholesterol-lowering medications and also discuss the relationship between diabetes, hypertension, and coronary artery disease..