Coronary Artery Disease

Every organ, tissue and cell of your body depends on your heart to pump blood through your circulatory system. But the heart itself also needs a sufficient supply of oxygen and nutrient rich blood to sustain the muscle tissue that keeps the heart pumping. The coronary arteries supply the heart with the blood it needs to function and thrive.

Coronary artery disease occurs when fatty deposits (lipid plaque) build up along the walls of the coronary arteries until blood flow becomes restricted. Fat and plaque can build up for many years without restricting blood flow; but once the lipid plaque, which streaks the walls of the arteries, expands into the width of the artery canal, the space available for blood to flow is severely diminished. When the heart muscles (myocardium) do not receive a sufficient amount of blood either myocardial ischemia or myocardial infarction occurs.

Myocardial Ischemia

Myocardial ischemia occurs when the muscle tissue of the heart does not receive enough oxygen. When this occurs, the muscles of the heart do not work efficiently and the heart does not function properly. Myocardial ischemia is a reversible result of coronary artery disease if a sufficient amount of oxygen rich blood is supplied to the muscle before the tissue dies.

Myocardial Infarction

Myocardial infarction occurs when the muscle tissue dies due to lack of oxygen caused by coronary artery disease. When this occurs, the muscles of the heart stop working resulting in a heart attack. Myocardial infarction is not reversible.

Contact Western Cardiovascular Associates online or call us at 801-743-4750 today to find out about your surgical treatment options for coronary artery disease.