If a patient has stable coronary artery disease, our goal is to prevent progression of the disease. We do this in a couple of ways. We will prescribe medication to control blood pressure and other medication, such as aspirin, to prevent blood clots. It is also important to make sure that cholesterol is well managed, and we encourage patients to avoid unhealthy habits, like smoking. Acute coronary disease often results in a heart attack, which is an emergency and needs to be treated in the hospital. When the coronary artery is blocked, it usually must be opened with a cardiac procedure, which may include placement of a stent. These procedures are usually performed at a hospital. Learn more about heart attacks and their treatment.