Coronary Artery Disease

The Leading Cause of Death in the USA

Coronary Artery Disease occurs when atherosclerosis, a very common arterial disease in which raised areas and degeneration of cholesterol deposits form on the inner surfaces of the arteries, affects the arteries in the heart muscle.

Imagine the pipe on the left as being one of our arteries. The pipe is the conduit through which our blood flows, bringing oxygen and nutrients to the muscles and cells in our body.

Our heart, the busiest muscle in the body is constantly pumping over 100,000 times a day. It needs a lot of oxygen and nutrients supply in order to work efficiently.

However, when the artery is corroded, and hardened by the plaque, the blood is impeded and only an insufficient amount of blood gets through. The heart doesn't get a sufficient amount of oxygen and it begins to suffer damage.

If the corrosion increases blocking the entire artery, or particles chip away and rupture in the artery, it causes a complete blockage of the artery. Blood and oxygen don't get to the heart muscle and a heart attack occurs. The heart muscle dies.