Coronary artery disease is the most murderous in Western countries. It kills 600,000 people each year in the USA. Although it develops slowly over many years, instant death (sudden death) in one third of cases.
Blood vessels that carry oxygen and nutrients to the heart muscle itself (or infarction) are small and form a crown around the heart (hence the name of vessel “coronary”).
Coronary heart disease starts when small blood vessels in these calls develop atherosclerotic plaques (see atherosclerosis), which are an accumulation of cholesterol, calcium and other substances in the vessel walls. Then he commits a greater or lesser degree the flow of oxygen and nutrients to the heart itself, with effects ranging from angina or myocardial infarction, even heart failure. (more…)