The Causes Of Coronary Heart Disease (CHD)

Coronary heart disease

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is a disease in which a waxy substance called plaque builds up in the coronary artery, located next to the heart and creates an abnormal blood flow. Over time the plaque hardens. When the plaque eventually ruptures, platelets in the blood race to the site of the injury and a blood clot forms. The plaque can eventually severely or completely block off blood flow through the coronary artery. If the blood and oxygen cannot get to your heart muscle at all, that part of your heart will die. Even if the blood flow is only partially blocked, decreased blood flow weakens the heart muscles. Smoking, high cholesterol, diabetes, high blood pressure, and blood vessel inflammation are all causes of coronary

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), also known as angioplasty, is a nonsurgical procedure that opens narrowed or blocked coronary arteries. A thin plastic tube with a miniature balloon is threaded through the blood vessel. Once near the plaque, the balloon is inflated in order to compress the plaque against the wall of the artery. This restores blood flow through the artery. According to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. “During the procedure, the doctor may put a small mesh tube called a stent in the artery.” (DHHS) The stent will help prevent blockages in the artery in months or even years after the procedure. These small stents can be 3d printed to specific small sizes and designs. However, as with all medical surgeries and procedures, there can always be complications. Furthermore, PCI is an evasion procedure and requires prolonged continuous treatment. Other surgeries do exist such as Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting in which other arteries from the body are used to make a bypass around the Coronary Artery for the blood to travel in. In conclusion, PCI is effective for more serious cases of CHD but can also entail unforeseen