Understanding your heart is the first step.

The most common form of heart disease. Over time, a fatty substance called plaque builds up inside the coronary arteries, narrowing them and reducing blood flow to the heart muscle. It develops gradually and may cause no symptoms for years; where it does, chest discomfort on exertion is often the first sign.

A heart attack occurs when blood flow to part of the heart is suddenly blocked, so that heart muscle begins to be damaged. Common warning signs include chest pain or pressure, discomfort spreading to the arm, jaw or back, shortness of breath, cold sweat and nausea. Symptoms can be less obvious in women and in people with diabetes.

Chest pain or discomfort caused by reduced blood flow to the heart muscle, often brought on by physical effort or stress and eased by rest. It is a warning that the heart is not receiving enough oxygen-rich blood, and it should always be assessed by a doctor.

The left main coronary artery supplies a large portion of the heart. A significant blockage here is considered high-risk and requires expert evaluation and treatment. It is one of Dr. Ray's areas of particular focus.

With age and certain risk factors, coronary arteries can become hardened by calcium. Calcified arteries are more difficult to treat with standard techniques, and may require rotational atherectomy to prepare the vessel before stenting.

The same disease process that narrows heart arteries can affect arteries elsewhere — most often those supplying the legs. This can cause pain when walking, and in more advanced cases affect wound healing. It is treatable, and often signals the need to assess the heart as well.