Patient Information
The Heart
The heart, although one of the most important organs in the body, is simply a muscular pump. It pumps blood containing oxygen and other essential nutrients around the body, and delivers waste products to the kidneys and lungs. For the heart to pump effectively it requires its own blood supply, which it receives from the three coronary arteries, and a regular and reliable heart beat, which it derives from its own electrical conduction system.
Coronary artery disease is caused by atheroma, an accumulation in the arteries of fatty deposits made up primarily of lipids and calcium. As the diagram opposite demonstrates, over time the build-up of these deposits makes it more difficult for blood to pass through the vessels, and may even cause a complete blockage which may in turn lead to a heart attack.
Coronary Artery Disease