Even though the heart muscle pumps blood, it does not get nourishment from the blood it pumps. Instead, the heart muscle gets nourishment from the coronary arteries. These arteries come from the main artery of the body right after it leaves the heart. They turn back to the heart and provide nutrients and oxygen to the heart muscle.

If the coronary arteries become damaged, the heart muscle does not get the nutrition and oxygen it needs to do its job. Since the heart's job is to pump blood to the rest of the body, a heart problem can be quite serious.

The most common disease that affects the coronary arteries is blockage with cholesterol and other types of fat. The blockage seems to start with a small injury on the inside of the coronary artery. The injury attracts blood elements and cholesterol. In time, the cholesterol builds up, just like a blockage in a pipe. If the artery is part way blocked, then the heart may not get enough blood if it must beat quickly. This can cause chest pain or angina pectoris. If the narrow part of the artery is blocked with a small blood clot, then no blood passes through. When a coronary artery is completely blocked, the heart muscle that depends on it may die. This is a heart attack.

We are not sure about all the causes of coronary artery disease. We do know that some things make it worse and others make it better. Cigarette smoking definitely makes coronary heart disease worse. High levels of cholesterol and fat in the blood seem to speed up the blockage. Diabetes and high blood pressure seem to make it worse also. Exercise helps coronary artery disease. Lowering cholesterol, treating diabetes and treating high blood pressure do so as well. If coronary artery disease is very severe, it may be necessary to operate. The operation opens the blockage or puts another type of blood supply around a blocked artery. The operation does not cure the disease. It is very important that people who have coronary artery surgery also do everything they can to help their disease.

For more information, contact your American Heart Association office or call (800) 242-8721.

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