冠状动脉疾病的精解

jacky

What Is Coronary Heart Disease?

Coronary heart disease (CHD), also called coronary artery disease, is a condition in which plaque (plak) builds up inside the coronary arteries. These arteries supply oxygen-rich blood to your heart muscle.

Plaque is made up of fat, cholesterol, calcium, and other substances found in the blood. When plaque builds up in the arteries, the condition is called[color=rgb(16,75,125)! important]atherosclerosis (ATH-er-o-skler-O-sis). The buildup of plaque occurs over many years.

Atherosclerosis

Figure A shows a normal artery with normal blood flow. Figure B shows an artery with plaque buildup.

Over time, plaque hardens and narrows your coronary arteries. This limits the flow of oxygen-rich blood to your heart muscle.

Eventually, an area of plaque can rupture (break open). This causes a blood clot to form on the surface of the plaque. If the clot becomes large enough, it can mostly or completely block blood flow through a coronary artery.

Overview

If the flow of oxygen-rich blood to your heart muscle is reduced or blocked, [color=rgb(16,75,125)! important]angina(an-JI-nuh or AN-juh-nuh) or a [color=rgb(16,75,125)! important]heart attack may occur.

Angina is chest pain or discomfort. It may feel like pressure or squeezing in your chest. The pain also may occur in your shoulders, arms, neck, jaw, or back. Angina pain may even feel like indigestion.

A heart attack occurs if the flow of oxygen-rich blood to a section of heart muscle suddenly becomes blocked. If blood flow isn’t restored quickly, the section of heart muscle begins to die. Without quick treatment, a heart attack can lead to serious problems and even death.

Over time, CHD can weaken the heart muscle and lead to [color=rgb(16,75,125)! important]heart failure and[color=rgb(16,75,125)! important]arrhythmias (ah-RITH-me-ahs). Heart failure is a condition in which your heart can't pump enough blood to meet your body’s needs. Arrhythmias are problems with the rate or rhythm of the heartbeat.

Outlook

CHD is the most common type of heart disease. In the United States, CHD is the#1 cause of death for both men and women. Lifestyle changes, medicines, and medical procedures can help prevent or treat CHD and may reduce the risk of related health problems.

该贴已经同步到 jacky的微博