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Coronary Artery Disease Research Paper

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Coronary artery disease (CAD), or heart disease, is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States. CAD is usually caused by the development of atherosclerosis, the condition in which plaques made up of cholesterol-containing deposits build up in the arteries. When plaque buildup narrows or blocks the coronary arteries that supply the heart muscle, there is a decrease in blood flow, oxygen and nutrients to the heart. This decreased blood flow can cause angina pectoris or chest pain, shortness of breath, or a heart attack. CAD weakens the heart muscle and leads to heart failure, in which the heart cannot pump enough blood the way it should to satisfy the body’s demands, or cardiac arrhythmias, in which the heartbeat is irregular. …show more content…

PCI restores blood flow through narrowed or blocked coronary arteries. During PCI, a balloon-tipped catheter -- a thin, flexible tube -- is inserted into an artery in the groin or the arm and threaded to the diseased coronary artery. Then, the balloon is inflated to compress the plaque and widen the artery. A stent usually made of metal mesh may be placed to help keep the artery open.
Bare metal stents (BMS) prevent the risk of the artery collapsing, but they do not reduce the risk of restenosis, the reoccurrence of the artery becoming narrowed and leading to decreased blood flow. The development of drug-eluting stents (DES) has improved the risk of restenosis. However, DES are associated with the risk of stent thrombosis, the formation of a blood clot inside the artery that can lead to decreased blood flow. Innovations in heart stents are continuing, and second-generation DES and new stents are under

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