India, April 1 -- The first signs of plaque build-up in arteries should be warning enough to hit the panic button and start appropriate measures rather than adopting the wait-and-watch approach to prevent a heart attack or stroke, say the latest Lancet Commission recommendations on rethinking coronary artery disease, signalling the need for a major shift in the treatment of heart disease.

Coronary artery disease (CAD) continues to be a leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally.

The recommendations that focus on preventing blockages in arteries that develop due to accumulation of fat, cholesterol etc are in line with a recent school of thought that moves the focus to early diagnosis, prevention, and management for most diseases, ...