What is coronary heart disease?
Coronary heart disease occurs when the coronary
arteries (the arteries that supply blood and oxygen
to the heart muscle) become narrowed by a gradual
build-up of fatty material within their walls.
This condition is called atherosclerosis and the
fatty material is called atheroma.
In time, the artery may become so narrow that
it cannot deliver enough oxygen containing blood
to the heart muscle, particularly at times when
there is more demand -such as when you are exerting
yourself. The pain or discomfort that happens
as a result is called angina. For more information
see our angina section on the website.
If the atheroma becomes unstable, a piece may
break off and lead to a blood clot forming. If
the blood clot blocks the coronary artery, the
heart muscle is starved of blood and oxygen and
may become permanently damaged. This is known
as a heart attack. A heart attack is a medical
emergency. For more information see our heart
attack section on the website.
If you think you are having a heart attack, you
should call 999 immediately.
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