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What is ischemic heart disease? |
CAD Coronary Artery Disease (Ischemic Heart Disease) is a narrowing of the coronary arteries, the vessels that supply blood to the heart muscle, generally due to the buildup of plaques in the arterial walls, a process known as atherosclerosis. Plaques are composed of cholesterol-rich fatty deposits, collagen, other proteins, and excess smooth muscle cells. Atherosclerosis, which usually progresses very gradually over a lifetime, thickens and narrows the arterial walls, impeding the flow of blood and starving the heart of the oxygen and vital nutrients it needs. This can cause muscle cramp-like chest pain called angina. |