The right coronary artery comes from the aorta, circles around the right side, and then to the back of the heart. The coronary arteries travel on the surface of the heart and divide into smaller branches. They then penetrate deep into the heart muscle, carrying oxygen-rich blood to the cells. Understanding Angina
Angina is a discomfort in the chest, arm, or jaw that occurs when an area
of the heart muscle does not receive enough oxygen. In most cases, the inadequate supply of oxygen is due to narrowed or blocked coronary arteries. Angina typically occurs with exertion or stress, when the heart
works harder and needs more oxygen. What Causes Angina?
The most common cause of angina is coronary heart disease, which is the build-up of fatty deposits inside the walls of the coronary arteries. As
these fatty deposits, known as plaques, continue to build up, they narrow the arteries and can reduce the flow of blood. These plaques may sufficiently reduce blood flow in the coronary arteries to cause angina or
heart attack. In addition to coronary heart disease, angina may occur with other conditions, such as coronary spasm, a thickened heart muscle, valvular heart disease, or severe anemia. Oxygen Supply and Demand
During rest, there is normally a balance between the amount of oxygen delivered to the heart muscle (oxygen supply) and the amount of oxygen the heat muscle needs to work properly (oxygen demand).
During exertion, the heart muscle does extra work and thus temporarily needs more oxygen. A healthy heart has no problem meeting this extra demand, since the normal coronary arteries are able to deliver enough
oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle. In patients with coronary heart disease, however, the narrowed or blocked arteries are unable to deliver the extra oxygen needed during activity. The imbalance between oxygen supply and demand leads to a temporary lack of oxygen, or ischemia, to the heart muscle. Angina is the body's way of sending a warning that ischemia is occurring. What Is Coronary Spasm?
In some patients, ischemia may be caused by spasm, a temporary contraction of the artery's walls. During spasm, a segment of the artery becomes narrowed, thus reducing blood flow to the heart muscle.
Spasm can occur in arteries with or without plaques. <BACK CONTINUED>
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