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Cardiovascular Care with
three locations in
the Dallas-Fort Worth Metro-Plex |
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 Frequently asked
questions |
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What is a coronary angioplasty?
The arteries of your heart can become clogged from a buildup of cells, fats and cholesterol called plaque. Plaque blocks the blood flow to your heart and can cause chest pain and lead to a heart attack. Angioplasty opens blocked arteries and allows blood to blow to your heart muscle. Angioplasty is not surgery. It opens a clogged coronary artery by inflating a tiny balloon in it. People who need angioplasty have coronary artery disease. This is caused by atherosclerosis or hardening of the arteries. In 1993, about 1,800,000 people had this disease and 73,000 went into the hospital because of it. Hundreds of thousands of people have angioplasty procedures. |
How is it done?
First, a doctor numbs a spot on your groin or arm and inserts a small tube into an artery. This thin plastic tube or catheter is threaded through the arterial system until it gets into the coronary artery that feeds your heart. By watching on a special x-ray screen, the doctor can move the catheter into the clogged spot. Next, a smaller catheter with a small balloon on its tip goes through the first catheter. When the balloon tipped catheter reaches the clogged artery, it is inflated. The inflated balloon pushes plaque to the side, opening the artery so blood can flow more easily. This may be done more than once. After that, the balloon and catheters are taken out. Now the clogged artery has been opened by the angioplasty and your heart will get the blood it needs. |
What causes blockages and are there things that I can do to lower my risk?
Coronary artery blockages occur when cholesterol is deposited in the walls of the arteries. This process usually begins when people are in their teens to twenties and progresses over many years. Some people are more predisposed to coronary blockages, and these people tend to develop significant blockages at a much faster rate and at an earlier age (30's - 40's). There are multiple risk factors which have been shown to increase this risk, and include elevated cholesterol, diabetes, high blood pressure, family history of coronary blockages, male gender, obesity, postmenopausal female and tobacco use. These risk factors are discussed in detail below: |
What is cholesterol?
Cholesterol is essential to the body. There are basically two kinds, sometimes referred to as "good" and "bad" cholesterol. Many people are aware that too much "bad" cholesterol may be dangerous. What people may not know is that too little "good" cholesterol can also be dangerous. Knowing the difference between good and bad cholesterol is important.
Bad cholesterol - LDL
(low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol is often referred to as
"bad" cholesterol. Your body normally uses a certain
amount of LDL and the rest circulates in the bloodstream. An
excess of LDL may deposit cholesterol in the walls of the arteries
over time. These deposits may eventually clog arteries leading to
the heart, which in turn may lead to a heart attack. Good
cholesterol - HDL (high-density lipoprotein)
cholesterol is considered good for your body because it is thought
to carry cholesterol away from the arteries and to the liver for
elimination. HDL is known as "good" cholesterol because
a high level of HDL has been associated with a low incidence of
heart attack. Be smart - Know your HDL and LDL! |
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The
Team