Coronary Angioplasty/Stenting
Coronary Artery Disease The inside wall of your arteries is normally smooth and flexible allowing blood to flow through them easily. Over time fatty deposits may build up inside the artery’s wall narrowing the vessel and reducing blood flow. As a result less blood is being sent to nourish the heart muscle. When a muscle does not receive enough blood for normal function it sends out an alarm in the form of some type of discomfort. This discomfort is called angina or angina pectoris. Typically angina occurs during physical exertion or times of emotional stress when the heart rate is increased. Angina generally lasts for only a few minutes and goes away with rest. When blood flow is interrupted for 20 minutes or longer, the muscle starts to die and a heart attack (myocardial infarction) occurs. When vessels are severely diseased and left uncorrected you are at risk for developing serious problems such as heart attacks, a weakened heart muscle (cardiomyopathy) and death. Your physician wi...