What is coronary heart disease?

What is coronary heart disease?

• A. A viral infection of the heart muscle
• B. A buildup of plaque in coronary arteries, reducing blood flow to the heart muscle
• C. Enlargement of the heart chambers
• D. Inflammation of the pericardium

Answer: (B)

Coronary heart disease is caused by atherosclerosis in the coronary arteries, the vessels that supply blood to the heart muscle. When plaques—made of cholesterol, fats, calcium, and inflammatory cells—build up, these arteries narrow. That narrowing lowers the amount of oxygen-rich blood reaching the heart, especially during activity when the heart needs more blood. This can lead to chest pain (angina) and, if a plaque ruptures and a clot blocks a narrowed artery, a heart attack. The option describing plaque buildup with reduced blood flow to the heart muscle matches this disease mechanism. The other choices refer to different heart conditions—viral infection of the heart muscle (myocarditis), enlargement of the heart chambers (cardiomegaly), and inflammation of the pericardial sac (pericarditis).

Coronary heart disease is caused by atherosclerosis in the coronary arteries, the vessels that supply blood to the heart muscle. When plaques—made of cholesterol, fats, calcium, and inflammatory cells—build up, these arteries narrow. That narrowing lowers the amount of oxygen-rich blood reaching the heart, especially during activity when the heart needs more blood. This can lead to chest pain (angina) and, if a plaque ruptures and a clot blocks a narrowed artery, a heart attack. The option describing plaque buildup with reduced blood flow to the heart muscle matches this disease mechanism. The other choices refer to different heart conditions—viral infection of the heart muscle (myocarditis), enlargement of the heart chambers (cardiomegaly), and inflammation of the pericardial sac (pericarditis).