ARRESTING THE NO. 1 KILLER.Although the death rate for coronary heart disease coronary heart disease: see coronary artery disease. coronary heart disease or ischemic heart disease Progressive reduction of blood supply to the heart muscle due to narrowing or blocking of a coronary artery (see atherosclerosis). has declined by about 45 percent since 1970, it's still the nation's No. 1 killer. A heart attack is caused by a buildup of fatlike deposits in the walls of a coronary artery coronary artery n. 1. An artery with origin in the right aortic sinus; with distribution to the right side of the heart in the coronary sulcus, and with branches to the right atrium and ventricle, including the atrioventricular branches and . Over time, such deposits narrow the arteries and reduce or stop the blood flow to the heart, sometimes causing chest pain, according to the American Heart Association American Heart Association (AHA), n.pr a national voluntary health agency that has the goal of increasing public and medical awareness of cardiovascular diseases and stroke, and thereby reducing the number of associated deaths and disabilities. . When a blood clot forms in a narrowed artery and completely blocks the blood flow, part of the heart may die. The dying part of the heart may trigger electrical activity that causes uncoordinated un·co·or·di·nat·ed adj. 1. Lacking physical or mental coordination. 2. Lacking planning, method, or organization. un twitching of the ventricles Ventricles The two chambers of the heart that are involved in pumping blood. The right ventricle pumps blood into the lungs to receive oxygen. The left ventricle pumps blood into the circulation of the body to deliver oxygen to all of the body's organs and tissues. , instead of the usually smooth, measured contractions that pump blood to the body's organs. This is a heart attack. Although risk of a heart attack increases with age, is higher among males and increases when there's a family history of heart disease, some contributing factors can be controlled. For more information, call the American Heart Association at (800) 242-8721. |
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