WHAT WENT WRONG?
Cholesterol,
calcium and other elements carried by the blood are deposited on the
wall of the
coronary artery resulting in the narrowing of the artery and the reduction
of blood flow
through the vessel. This impedes blood supply to the heart muscle.
These deposits
start out as fatty streaks and eventually develop into plaque that
inhibits blood
flow through the artery. Elevated cholesterol levels and fat intake
can contribute
to this plaque build-up, as can hypertension, diabetes, and smoking.
When the
plaque builds up within the artery, the heart muscle is deprived of oxygen
and nutrients
ultimately damaging the heart muscle.
