Coronary heart disease
A disease where the heart's own blood vessels get clogged with fatty deposits, so the heart muscle gets too little oxygen.
Last updated
Analogy
A blocked pipe starving a pump of fuel.
In practice
Doctors may fit a stent, a small mesh tube, to hold a blocked vessel open.
Practice
Flashcards
- What happens in coronary heart disease?Fatty deposits block the heart's own blood vessels.
Questions people ask
What causes coronary heart disease?
A build-up of fatty material in the coronary arteries narrows them. Risk factors include a diet high in saturated fat, smoking, high blood pressure, lack of exercise and family history. Less blood reaches the heart muscle, which can cause chest pain or a heart attack.
How is coronary heart disease treated?
Stents are small metal tubes that hold arteries open. Statins are drugs that lower cholesterol in the blood. A bypass operation uses a healthy vessel to go around a blocked one. Doctors also advise lifestyle changes such as eating better, exercising and not smoking.