What causes coronary artery disease?
A thickening of the inside walls of the coronary arteries causes coronary artery disease. This thickening, called atherosclerosis or “hardening of the arteries,” narrows the space through which blood can flow, decreasing and sometimes completely cutting off the supply of oxygen and nutrients to the heart.What causes the arterial walls to thicken is the buildup of plaque. These plaques actually consist of a waxy cholesterol center and a thin fibrous outer cap. As plaques build inside the arteries, they become less elastic and narrower. Eventually the flow of blood through the coronary arteries slows down, keeping oxygen and nutrient-rich blood from reaching the heart.Another risk related to atherosclerosis is the potential for plaques to rupture or fragment. This exposes the fatty substances inside of the plaque to the bloodstream and can result in the formation of blood clots.
A. A thickening of the inside walls of the coronary arteries causes coronary artery disease. This thickening, called atherosclerosis or “hardening of the arteries,” narrows the space through which blood can flow, decreasing and sometimes completely cutting off the supply of oxygen and nutrients to the heart. What causes the arterial walls to thicken is the buildup of plaque. These plaques actually consist of a waxy cholesterol center and a thin fibrous outer cap. As plaques build inside the arteries, they become less elastic and narrower. Eventually the flow of blood through the coronary arteries slows down, keeping oxygen and nutrient-rich blood from reaching the heart. Another risk related to atherosclerosis is the potential for plaques to rupture or fragment. This exposes the fatty substances inside of the plaque to the bloodstream and can result in the formation of blood clots. Blood clots form at the site of the disrupted plaques in the arteries, and can completely block the blood
A thickening of the inside walls of the coronary arteries causes coronary artery disease. This thickening, called atherosclerosis or “hardening of the arteries,” narrows the space through which blood can flow, decreasing and sometimes completely cutting off the supply of oxygen and nutrients to the heart. What causes the arterial walls to thicken is the buildup of plaque. These plaques actually consist of a waxy cholesterol center and a thin fibrous outer cap. As plaques build inside the arteries, they become less elastic and narrower. Eventually the flow of blood through the coronary arteries slows down, keeping oxygen and nutrient-rich blood from reaching the heart. Another risk related to atherosclerosis is the potential for plaques to rupture or fragment. This exposes the fatty substances inside of the plaque to the bloodstream and can result in the formation of blood clots. Blood clots form at the site of the disrupted plaques in the arteries, and can completely block the blood fl
