Progression of coronary artery narrowing may occur very slowly. Complete blockage of the coronary artery may take months or even years.
Blockages to the coronary arteries are a major cause of heart disease and heart attacks and their associated disability and mortality.
This slow progression allows the growth of new blood vessels from other coronary arteries into the branches of the blocked artery. These new blood vessels are called collaterals.
Blockage in the arteries is built up to the danger point while the victim is totally unaware.
Everyone has two major coronary arteries: the left main coronary artery and the right coronary artery. Both have major branches. The left circumflex coronary supplies oxygenated blood to the left ventricle and the right circumflex carries blood to the right ventricle.
The substances responsible for obstructing the arteries are cholesterol, fats, inorganic minerals and fibrous tissue. The inner passages of the arteries can become so narrow that not enough blood can flow through to properly nourish the powerful heart muscle.
Artery blockage
