Coronary occlusion

A coronary occlusion, or coronary artery disease, is the partial or complete obstruction of blood flow in a coronary artery. This condition may cause a heart attack. It is the most common form of cardiovascular disease, and is the leading cause of death in the United States, affecting 18 million adults.

Description

A coronary occlusion can be caused by smoking, having other heart or blood conditions, or being physically inactive. It is also hereditary. Symptoms include chest pain, shortness of breath, pain in upper body, fatigue, nausea, an irregular heartbeat, and drowsiness.

To diagnose a coronary occlusion, a doctor may view a patient's medical history, or perform a coronary angiography; a doctor will stick a catheter into the wrist or groin, lead it to the heart, and inject a liquid for X-ray imaging.

To treat a coronary occlusion, medication may be used to relieve symptoms. Percutaneous coronary intervention or coronary artery bypass surgery may also be used.

In history

According to Robert K. Massie's Nicholas and Alexandra: The Fall of the Romanov Dynasty, Tsar Nicholas II may have suffered a coronary occlusion right before he was toppled from his throne during the Russian Revolution in 1917.

See also

• Arterial embolism

References

1. Percutaneous coronary intervention
2. Coronary artery disease
3. Atherosclerosis
4. Coronary
5. Coronary catheterization
6. Coronary artery bypass surgery
7. Arterial occlusion
8. Coronary steal
9. Myocardial infarction
10. Coronary vasospasm
11. Angioplasty
12. Coronary CT angiography
13. Left anterior descending artery
14. Beau's lines
15. Vascular resistance
16. Coronary thrombosis
17. Left atrial appendage occlusion
18. Collateralization
19. Coronary stent
20. Cardiac catheterization