A lot of people heard about coronary artery disease, but few know that atherosclerosis is one of the most frequent causes of this condition.
Atherosclerosis is the stiffening of arterial walls by cholesterol plaques, which reduce the size of the arterial aperture. When atherosclerotic lesions hit the coronary arteries, this condition is called coronary artery disease. As a matter of fact, atherosclerosis is the cause of blood flow reduction to the heart. Atherosclerosis is considered life-threatening condition when the coronary arteries supplying the heart muscular tissue with oxygen become blocked with cholesterol, calcium, cellular waste and thrombi. Atherosclerosis is diagnosed by signs and symptoms when the atherosclerotic lesions and thrombosis reduce the blood flow to the heart beneath a certain protective level. Doctors attract attention to the factors that may give rise to the appearance of coronary artery disease. Among them are coronary thrombosis, vascular spasms, and increased hemodynamic requirements of the heart. Coronary atherosclerosis is the leading cause of death all over the world.

How atherosclerosis is manifested clinically

Coronary atherosclerosis is an affection of the arteries, which may result in angina pectoris, acute myocardial infarction, and sudden death. Investigators suggest that the development of atherosclerosis is associated with diet particularities and varied aspects of modus vivendi, such as smoking, physical inactivity, and obesity. Doctors affirm that cigarette smoking, high blood cholesterol level, and high blood pressure are essential risk factors of coronary artery disease. The risk is greatly augmented if these factors act together and interplay. If oxygen supply is totally blocked, it may lead to heart attack. If oxygen deficiency is partial, it can result in angina pectoris. All these conditions can become fatal because of coronary failure and life threatening complications. Atherosclerosis is the cause of the discrepancy between heart muscle demands and its supply with oxygen. Affected persons experience chest discomfort and pain radiating to the jaw or arm that is characteristic for stenocardia. Myocardial infarction is the final result of cellular death of a heart muscle segment. The leading symptom is distressing, long-lasting pain. Sudden death may be the result of ventricular fibrillation against this aberrant background and ineffective electric activity.

Right treatment for coronary artery disease

Some medicaments, which diminish the level of cholesterol in the blood, can reduce the risks linked to atherosclerosis. Doctors use nitroglycerin, beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers to expand the coronary arteries, amend heart activity and diminish myocardial oxygen demands. Anticoagulants and acetylsalicylic acid prevent formation of blood clots. Surgeons perform coronary angioplasty, balloon dilatation of the obstructed vessel; introduce stretchable wire-mesh stents into coronary arteries, and coronary artery bypass surgery.