What is coronary heart disease? 'Y&R' soap star reveals diagnosis

What to know about coronary heart disease, from symptoms to treatment options.

Melissa Claire Egan, known for her roles in daytime soap operas "The Young and the Restless" and "All My Children," revealed she was diagnosed with coronary heart disease in late January.

The actress, 44, shared the diagnosis in an Instagram post on Feb. 26.

"Thanks to early detection, and medicine, I will be okay!" she wrote. "I’m a private person, but this seemed TOO IMPORTANT NOT TO SHARE. Especially for women."

According to recent projections published by the American Heart Association, 14.4% of women in the United States will experience cardiovascular disease and/or stroke by 2025, up from 10.7% in 2020.Coronary heart disease, also known as coronary artery disease or CAD, affects the main blood vessels that supply blood to the heart, called the coronary arteries, causing reduced blood flow to the heart muscle, according to the Mayo Clinic.

CAD is the leading cause of death in the United States and around the world, according to the Cleveland Clinic. In 2021, for example, coronary artery disease killed 375,500 people in the country.