Blockage or hardening of the arteries is usually referred to as atherosclerosis, a condition that can lead to angina, or chest pain, and heart attacks. The blockage is due to the buildup of cholesterol and fatty deposits on the inner walls of the arteries, the Cleveland Clinic explains. The clogged arteries restrict blood flow to the heart muscle, which disrupts functioning of the heart and leads to heart disease.
Long Process
The blockage can begin as early as adolescence, when the first signs of fat start sticking to the blood vessel walls. As people age the fat builds up and combines with other cellular substances to form fatty material called plaque. Blood clots may start to cling to the plaque deposits over time, and the coronary arteries begin to narrow or become blocked. This causes heart disease, also known as coronary artery disease (CAD).
Heart Failure
The weakened heart muscle can lead to heart failure over time as the heart cannot pump enough blood through the body. The disruption of normal functioning can cause heart damage. Arrhythmias, or the erratic speed of the heartbeat, may result.
Angina
Chest pains may occur because the heart muscle is not receiving enough blood and has lost much of its oxygen and vital nutrients. When the narrowing of arteries makes the heart work too strenuously, the pain in the chest can be felt in a condition called angina. The discomfort of angina may cause a feeling such as pressure or squeezing in the chest. Pain can expand from the chest to the shoulders, arms, neck, jaw or back, according to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute.
Heart Attack
When the blood flow to the heart is completely cut off because of artery blockage, the heart may die from not receiving the necessary oxygen-rich blood. The result is a heart attack. Immediate emergency treatment is necessary or the serious problems can cause death.
Treatment
CAD is the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States. The disease can be treated through lifestyle changes that include low-fat, low-cholesterol diets and exercise. Medicine can also be used for heart disease patients. The insertion of a stent, a small supportive device, helps keep arteries open for adequate blood flow for some patients. Stents can also slowly release a drug to prevent scar tissue that can develop in the treated arteries. The production of scar tissue necessitates further medical procedures to keep the arteries open. Defibrillators and pacemakers can be inserted into the chest to correct erratic heartbeats caused by heart failure.
