Guide to Heart Patient

Coronary Artery Disease and Antherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis means hardening of the arteries. With advancing age, the arteries become stiff and there is deposition of fatty material in the walls of the arteries. When these changes are excessive and abnormal, the lumen of the artery is blocked, and blood flow is reduced. These changes also occur in coronary arteries, as a result, the arteries are blocked and blood supply to the heart muscles is impaired.

Because these changes occur throughout the body, a person may also have other arteries blocked and can have symptoms related to brain, kidney or limbs.