Why is it called a widow-maker?

The “widowmaker” is an expression describing the complete closure of the left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery. The LAD is an essential coronary artery and its occlusion can result in immediate death, hence the name.

Why is it called a widow-maker heart attack?

The LAD artery carries fresh blood into the heart so that the heart gets the oxygen it needs to pump properly. If it’s blocked, the heart can stop very fast — which is why this type of heart attack is called a “widowmaker.”

What artery is called the widow-maker?

A widowmaker is an informal term for a heart attack that involves 100 percent blockage in the left anterior descending (LAD) artery, says Stanley Chetcuti, M.D., an interventional cardiologist at the University of Michigan Frankel Cardiovascular Center.

Which coronary artery blockage is referred to as the widow-maker heart attack?

The left anterior descending artery (also LAD, anterior interventricular branch of left coronary artery, or anterior descending branch) is a branch of the left coronary artery. Blockage of this artery is often called the widow-maker infarction due to a high death risk.

How do you check for Widowmaker arteries?

You can prevent the widowmaker by making key lifestyle changes (and we’ll get to those) but the best way to get checked is with a regular cardiac scan to assess your coronary calcium score. This test assesses the amount of calcium deposits in the heart and a high score may indicate a potential plaque build up.

Can you put a stent in the Widow Maker artery?

A long-term Korean study found stents as safe as open heart surgery in treating blockages of a coronary artery known as the widowmaker, showing that stented patients did not run a significantly higher risk of suffering a heart attack or stroke.

What is LAD artery of the heart?

The left anterior descending artery (LAD) is the largest coronary artery runs anterior to the interventricular septum in the anterior interventricular groove, extending from the base of the heart to the apex. The LAD gives two sets of branches.

Is LAD the main artery?

The LAD is considered the most important of the three main coronary arteries and is almost always the largest. It’s called the LAD because is on the left side of the heart (left) it runs down the front wall of the heart (anterior descending).

What are the 4 main coronary arteries?

The right coronary artery, the left main coronary, the left anterior descending, and the left circumflex artery, are the four major coronary arteries. Blockage of these arteries is a common cause of angina, heart disease, heart attacks and heart failure.