Intervention for coronary artery disease

Coronary artery disease means narrowing of the coronary arteries (arteries that supply blood to the heart). This narrowing is due to a buildup in the walls of the arteries of plaque (deposits made up of cholesterol, other fats, and calcium)—a process called atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries). If a plaque becomes delicate and breaks, a blood clot will quickly form that can block blood flow in the artery and may lead to a myocardial infarction (death of the heart muscle area supplied by the blocked artery), often referred to as a heart attack. Several tests can be performed in an emergency department to determine if a heart attack is occurring. Blood tests can detect certain substances in the blood that are released during a heart attack. An electrocardiogram (ECG, EKG) can reveal heart attacks and heart rhythm problems.