The most common cause of coronary artery diseases is arteriosclerosis. Cholesterol, inflammatory cells, fibrin and other debris are built up inside blood vessels causing vessel wall thickening and narrowing that lead to overall reduction in blood supply.
Angina Pectoris – Narrowed vessels due to arteriosclerosis of coronary artery are unable to supply enough blood for heart muscles causing ‘Ischemic’ condition. Pain generally continues for 3~10 minutes. If pain last over 30 minutes, acute myocardial infarction is suspected.
Myocardial Infarction – Angina Pectoris develops into myocardial infarction. As plaques formed inside the blood vessel wall due to arteriosclerosis rupture, blood clots in the inner wall of damaged blood vessels completely block the vessels instantly. This causes necrosis of heart muscles as they are unable to receive blood supply from the vessel.

Available Treatments
1. Medication
Medication is the first stage treatment for coronary artery diseases. Vasodilators, antiplatelet, calcium-blockers, and beta-blockers are used for angina pectoris. Thrombolytics is used for myocardial infarction to open up coronary arteries by dissolving blood clots.
2. Surgery
For severe coronary artery diseases, coronary artery bypass graft or percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) are effective. Coronary artery bypass graft procedure grafts arteries near the heart or legs veins to the coronary arteries to bypass clogged regions. Although this method can reduce drug dependency, the arteries can be clogged again after 5~10 years.
3. Angioplasty
In case both medication and surgical treatment do not work, angioplasty such as balloon angioplasty, stent insertion and laser treatment is performed. Stent refers to a wire inserted into coronary arteries to widen narrowed blood vessels.