In people with coronary heart disease, the coronary arteries get clogged with fatty deposits called plaques.
Graphic 61785 Version 5.0
View Originalfigure 1Coronary heart disease
In people with coronary heart disease, the coronary arteries get clogged with fatty deposits called plaques.
Graphic 61785 Version 5.0
View OriginalHeart attack
Plaques inside the coronary arteries sometimes break open or "rupture. " � This is what causes most heart attacks. When a plaque breaks open, it causes a blood clot to form inside the artery. As the clot grows, it can completely block off the flow of blood through the artery. That means that the tissue on the other end of the clogged artery does not get the blood and oxygen it needs, so it gets damaged or dies.
Graphic 60394 Version 5.0
View Originalfigure 2Heart attack
Plaques inside the coronary arteries sometimes break open or "rupture. " � This is what causes most heart attacks. When a plaque breaks open, it causes a blood clot to form inside the artery. As the clot grows, it can completely block off the flow of blood through the artery. That means that the tissue on the other end of the clogged artery does not get the blood and oxygen it needs, so it gets damaged or dies.
Graphic 60394 Version 5.0
View OriginalHeart attack symptoms
This picture shows the main symptoms of a heart attack. People who are having a heart attack often have only some of these symptoms. The pain, pressure, and discomfort caused by a heart attack mostly affect the left side of the body (shown in darker red) but can also affect the right. If you think you are having a heart attack, call 9-1-1 for an ambulance. Do not try to get yourself to the hospital.
Graphic 52579 Version 1.0
View Originalfigure 3Heart attack symptoms
This picture shows the main symptoms of a heart attack. People who are having a heart attack often have only some of these symptoms. The pain, pressure, and discomfort caused by a heart attack mostly affect the left side of the body (shown in darker red) but can also affect the right. If you think you are having a heart attack, call 9-1-1 for an ambulance. Do not try to get yourself to the hospital.
Graphic 52579 Version 1.0
View OriginalCoronary artery bypass graft surgery
During coronary artery bypass surgery, the surgeon removes a piece of blood vessel from the leg, chest, arm, or belly. Then the surgeon uses that piece of blood vessel (called a "graft") to reroute blood around the blocked artery. The surgery is called "bypass surgery" because it bypasses the blockage. Some people have more than one blocked artery bypassed. In this picture, the graft came from a vein in the leg called the "saphenous vein. " � But grafts can come from other places, too.
Graphic 73589 Version 4.0
View Originalfigure 4Coronary artery bypass graft surgery
During coronary artery bypass surgery, the surgeon removes a piece of blood vessel from the leg, chest, arm, or belly. Then the surgeon uses that piece of blood vessel (called a "graft") to reroute blood around the blocked artery. The surgery is called "bypass surgery" because it bypasses the blockage. Some people have more than one blocked artery bypassed. In this picture, the graft came from a vein in the leg called the "saphenous vein. " � But grafts can come from other places, too.
Graphic 73589 Version 4.0
View Original