What is Coronary Heart Disease?
Coronary artery disease occurs when plaque
builds up along artery walls (a process called atherosclerosis,
or “hardening of the arteries”), reducing the
flow of blood that nourishes the heart muscle. Inside the
blood vessels, a cap forms an irregular surface over the
fatty plaque. If the plaque is unstable, it bursts through
the cap. The body responds as it would to any other injury:
it forms blood clots, which can block blood flow and cause
chest pain (known as angina) or a heart attack (also called
a myocardial infarction, or MI).
Reference
“Coronary
Artery Disease,” National Women’s Health
Information Center, October 2002.
Source of Material: RockHill Communications, 14
Rock Hill Road Bala, Cynwyd, PA 19004, (610) 667-2040, http://www.RockHillCommunications.com
Writer: Christine Norris
Editors: Andrea King, Joanne Poeggel, Erin Murphy, Ron
Wozny
Clinical Reviewer: Patt Panzer, M.D. - RockHill Communications
Date Written: 3/1/01
Last Reviewed & Updated: 5/31/2003 |
