coronary heart disease

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Figure 1

An adult heart is made mainly out of cardiac muscle and needs to pump blood through blood vessels which are equivalent to 50,000 miles long. To do this it needs a good supply of blood and glucose. Cardiac muscle cells get their supply from coronary arteries (shown below). If one of these arteries were to become blocked then essential nutrients would not reach the heart as the blood supply would be reduced. This would interfere with the heart muscle's ability to contract.

Figure 2

Coronary artery disease occurs when the coronary arteries become hardened and narrowed. The arteries harden and narrow (vasoconstriction) due to build up of plaque on their inner walls. The build up of plaque is known as atherosclerosis.

In atherosclerosis, plaque deposits build up in the arteries. Plaque is made up of fat, cholesterol, calcium, and other substances from the blood. Plaque build up in the arteries often begins in childhood. Over time, plaque build up in the coronary arteries can:

* Narrow the arteries. This reduces the amount of blood and oxygen that reaches the heart muscle.

* Completely block the arteries. This stops the flow of blood to the heart muscle.

* Cause blood clots to form. This can block the arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle.
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Reduced or cut off blood flow supply to the heart muscle can result in:

* ANGINA: chest pain or discomfort that occurs when the heart does not get enough blood.

Signs and Symptoms:

* Squeezing pressure, heaviness, or mild ache in the chest

* Aching in a tooth with or without squeezing pressure or heaviness in the chest

* Aching into the neck muscles or jaw

* Aching into one or both arms

* Aching into the back

* A feeling of gas in the upper abdomen and ...

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