If an artery narrows too much, you can feel chest pain. A heart attack occurs if an artery closes all the way or narrows so much that a blood clot blocks the blood flow.

Here are important medical terms to know about your condition.

A person with coronary heart disease has an accumulation of fatty deposits in the coronary arteries. These deposits narrow the arteries and can decrease or block the flow of blood to the heart.

If your father or mother has heart disease, that doesn't mean you will automatically develop it, too. It's true that you are more likely to get it than someone who does not have a family history of heart disease, but you can take steps to try to prevent it.

Control your blood pressure, keep your cholesterol in check, and take your medicine as prescribed.

In many cases, the progression to high blood pressure occurs within four years of being diagnosed with prehypertension.

Detailed information on vascular conditions, including a description of the vascular system, causes and effects of vascular disease, and a full-color anatomical illustration

The heart is a pump made of muscle tissue. Its pumping action is regulated by electrical impulses.

Your heart pumps blood through 60,000 miles of vessels. But it gets help in this huge task from your body's other muscles, especially those in the legs.

Every minute of every day, millions of blood cells trek through about 60,000 miles of blood vessels -- enough to stretch from New York City to San Francisco 23 times -- delivering oxygen and nutrients to every tissue. Your cardiovascular system includes your heart and two basic kinds of blood vessels: arteries and veins.

By knowing your heart rate, you can gauge how fit you are and whether you're working out at a moderate pace.

As a patient, understanding the basics of the guidelines can help you take a more active role in your treatment.

A short glossary of medical terms associated with heart disease.

It’s great if you can keep your heart healthy—by not smoking, eating a healthy diet, and getting regular physical activity. But what if you end up needing heart surgery? What should you know about the procedure?

Not everyone who has had a heart attack needs open-heart surgery, such as a bypass operation.

Glossary of terms relating to cardiovascular disease and heart healthy living