Modern aggressive medical therapy is highly effective in reducing plaque burden (decreasing the volume of cholesterol within the coronary artery plaque). As such, medications, prudent dietary measures, and daily aerobic exercise have been shown slow down the progression, and many times, prevent the progression of atherosclerotic disease (presence of plaque in the arterial system). A balanced approach (using all three therapeutic modalities), dramatically reduces one’s risk of plaque rupture and thereby markedly diminishing the likelihood of experiencing a heart attack, stroke, or sudden cardiac death. Anti-atherosclerotic therapy (e.g., lipid lowering medications, diet, exercise), together with anti-ischemic therapy (medications that reduce the workload of the heart and/or increase collateral blood flow to the affected region of the heart muscle beyond the blockage), can stabilize patients who do not have high-risk disease (e.g., enlarged or weakened heart, left main coronary artery disease).