The coronary arteries supply blood and oxygen to the heart muscle. When blockages from plaque or inflammation in the coronary arteries restrict the blood supply to the heart muscle (a condition known as ischemic heart disease), this puts extra strain on the heart.

This additional stress can lead to:

• Acute coronary syndrome—a medical term that broadly refers to situations where the blood supply to the heart is suddenly blocked
• Acute myocardial infarction—heart attack
• Heart failure—a chronic, progressive condition in which the heart is unable to pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs

Narrowing of the arteries in the heart is called coronary atherosclerosis. Arteries may be narrowed in other parts of the body as well. Blockages that occur in the arms, legs, or elsewhere indicate a condition called peripheral artery disease or peripheral vascular disease; both conditions are types of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.

Removing these blockages can improve overall heart function, which may improve or resolve CAD symptoms. Controlling risk factors such as smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes can help prevent the buildup of plaque or inflammation in the coronary arteries.

Removing blockages in the arteries can improve overall heart function, which may improve or resolve CAD symptoms. Controlling risk factors such as smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes can help prevent the buildup of plaque or inflammation in the coronary arteries.

There are 2 types of treatment:

• Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG)—CABG is one type of congestive heart failure procedure to reroute the blood supply around a blocked section of the artery. This procedure is performed in the operating room by a cardiothoracic surgeon. During this procedure, the cardiac surgeon removes healthy blood vessels from another part of the body, such as a leg or the chest wall. They then surgically attach the vessels to the diseased artery in such a way that the blood can flow around the blocked section
• Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI)—PCI is 1 type of coronary artery disease treatment to reopen blocked vessels. This procedure is performed in the cardiac catheterization lab. A catheter with a tiny deflated balloon on the end is inserted through an incision in the femoral or radial artery and advanced through to the diseased artery. The balloon is then inflated to push open the artery. A stent is then placed to keep the blood vessel open

The dedicated team at our coronary heart disease center in Brooklyn, NY is committed to providing our patients with the information and tools they need to make informed decisions about their health care. Our goal is providing outstanding care for better patient outcomes.