A Look at Coronary Artery Disease
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Coronary artery disease, also called coronary heart disease, or simply, heart disease, is the No. 1 killer in America, affecting more than 13 million Americans.
Heart disease is a result of plaque buildup in your arteries, which blocks blood flow and heightens the risk for heart attack and stroke.
Acute Myocardial Infarcation (Heart Attack) Patient Education Center
Visit WebMD's Heart Disease Health Center Newly Diagnosed? Find out more Heart Attack: Get Information From the Cleveland Clinic Cardiac Rehabilitation: Get Information From the Cleveland Clinic Looking for Clinical Trials? Check here Cholesterol Facts Test Your Heart Attack Knowledge Reach Out: Heart Disease ...
Read the Acute Myocardial Infarcation (Heart Attack) Patient Education Center article > >
Heart disease is a result of plaque buildup in your coronary arteries -- a condition called atherosclerosis -- that leads to blockages. The arteries, which start out smooth and elastic, become narrow and rigid, restricting blood flow to the heart. The heart becomes starved of oxygen and the vital nutrients it needs to pump properly.
From a young age, cholesterol-laden plaque can start to deposit in the blood vessel walls. As you get older, the plaque burden builds up, inflaming the blood vessel walls and raising the risk of blood clots and heart attack. The plaques release chemicals that promote the process of healing but make the inner walls of the blood vessel sticky. Then, other substances, such as inflammatory cells, lipoproteins, and calcium that travel in your bloodstream start sticking to the inside of the vessel walls.
Eventually, a narrowed coronary artery may develop new blood vessels that go around the blockage to get blood to the heart. However, during times of increased exertion or stress, the new arteries may not be able to supply enough oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle.
In some cases, a blood clot may totally block the blood supply to the heart muscle, causing heart attack. If a blood vessel to the brain is blocked, usually from a blood clot, an ischemic stroke can result. If a blood vessel within the brain bursts, most likely as a result of uncontrolled hypertension (high blood pressure), a hemorrhagic stroke can result.
Coronary Artery Disease
In this article
- What Is Coronary Artery Disease?
- How Does Coronary Artery Disease Develop?
- What Is Ischemia?
- What Are the Symptoms of Coronary Artery Disease?
- How Is Coronary Artery Disease Diagnosed?
- How Is Coronary Artery Disease Treated?
- What to Do If You Have a Coronary Emergency
Font Size
A
A
A
Coronary artery disease, also called coronary heart disease, or simply, heart disease, is the No. 1 killer in America, affecting more than 13 million Americans.
Heart disease is a result of plaque buildup in your arteries, which blocks blood flow and heightens the risk for heart attack and stroke.
Recommended Related to Heart Disease
Acute Myocardial Infarcation (Heart Attack) Patient Education Center
Visit WebMD's Heart Disease Health Center Newly Diagnosed? Find out more Heart Attack: Get Information From the Cleveland Clinic Cardiac Rehabilitation: Get Information From the Cleveland Clinic Looking for Clinical Trials? Check here Cholesterol Facts Test Your Heart Attack Knowledge Reach Out: Heart Disease ...
Read the Acute Myocardial Infarcation (Heart Attack) Patient Education Center article > >
What Is Coronary Artery Disease?
Heart disease is a result of plaque buildup in your coronary arteries -- a condition called atherosclerosis -- that leads to blockages. The arteries, which start out smooth and elastic, become narrow and rigid, restricting blood flow to the heart. The heart becomes starved of oxygen and the vital nutrients it needs to pump properly.
How Does Coronary Artery Disease Develop?
From a young age, cholesterol-laden plaque can start to deposit in the blood vessel walls. As you get older, the plaque burden builds up, inflaming the blood vessel walls and raising the risk of blood clots and heart attack. The plaques release chemicals that promote the process of healing but make the inner walls of the blood vessel sticky. Then, other substances, such as inflammatory cells, lipoproteins, and calcium that travel in your bloodstream start sticking to the inside of the vessel walls.
Eventually, a narrowed coronary artery may develop new blood vessels that go around the blockage to get blood to the heart. However, during times of increased exertion or stress, the new arteries may not be able to supply enough oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle.
In some cases, a blood clot may totally block the blood supply to the heart muscle, causing heart attack. If a blood vessel to the brain is blocked, usually from a blood clot, an ischemic stroke can result. If a blood vessel within the brain bursts, most likely as a result of uncontrolled hypertension (high blood pressure), a hemorrhagic stroke can result.
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