Heart disease is a condition in which blood flow is restricted in the arteries so much that it is severely reduced or cut off entirely. Blood flow restriction is caused by a narrowing of the arteries due to the buildup of plaque. Plaque is a combination of cholesterol, fat, and other substances along the walls of the arteries. The process of plaque building up slowly over time is called atherosclerosis.
Eventually, some plaque may break away from the lining of the artery and a blood clot will form around it. The blood clot then blocks blood from flowing through that artery. This starves the heart of oxygen and other nutrients and damages the heart, causing a heart attack. According to The American Heart Association (AHA), someone in the United States has a heart attack about every 40 seconds.
In this video you will learn:
- What is heart disease?
- Causes of heart disease
- Treatment for heart disease