How does atheroma lead to heart disease?

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is usually caused by a build-up of fatty deposits (atheroma) on the walls of the arteries around the heart (coronary arteries). The build-up of atheroma makes the arteries narrower, restricting the flow of blood to the heart muscle. This process is called atherosclerosis.

Can vascular disease cause a heart attack?

Blockage in coronary arteries can cause chest pain (angina) or a heart attack. If it’s in the carotid arteries that supply your brain, it can lead to a stroke or mini stroke, which is called a transient ischemic attack (TIA).

What causes atherosclerosis of aorta?

Atherosclerosis is thickening or hardening of the arteries caused by a buildup of plaque in the inner lining of an artery. Risk factors may include high cholesterol and triglyceride levels, high blood pressure, smoking, diabetes, obesity, physical activity, and eating saturated fats.

Is CHD heart disease?

Coronary heart disease is a narrowing of the small blood vessels that supply blood and oxygen to the heart. Coronary heart disease (CHD) is also called coronary artery disease. The coronary arteries supply blood to the heart muscle.

What is atheroma made up of?

Atheromas are raised lesions that protrude into the vessel lumen and contain a soft, yellow, grumous (thick and lumpy) core consisting mainly of cholesterol and cholesterol esters, covered by a white, fibrous cap.

How does an atheroma form?

They develop when cholesterol sticks to the wall of the artery. Your immune system, sensing a problem, will send white blood cells to attack the cholesterol. This sets off a chain of reactions that leads to inflammation. In a worst-case scenario, cells form a plaque over the cholesterol, and a small blockage is formed.

What is the common term for myocardial infarction?

A myocardial infarction (commonly called a heart attack) is an extremely dangerous condition caused by a lack of blood flow to your heart muscle.

What is CHD in a child?

Congenital heart defects (CHDs) are the most common type of birth defect. As medical care and treatment have advanced, babies with a CHD are living longer and healthier lives.

Is CAD same as CHD?

Is there a difference? The short answer is often no — health professionals frequently use the terms interchangeably. However, coronary heart disease , or CHD, is actually a result of coronary artery disease, or CAD, said Edward A. Fisher, M.D., Ph.