Buerger's Disease: The Widow Maker Artery

Suffering from Atherosclerosis is an extremely painful process and often results in death, but there are some other side affects that, though they might not result in death, will cause extreme discomfort and pain. For example, take Buerger’s Disease (Thromboangiitis obliterans). It is a condition were a blood clot forms in one of the veins or arteries in your extremities preventing blood from reaching them. (as shown in figure 1.3) Because blood cannot reach it, and therefore no oxygen either, the affected area will lose feeling and eventually die. This can affect almost anyone but primarily affects Asian and Middle Eastern men in there 40’s and 50’s, due to heavy Tabaco consumption, as well it can be transferred genetically. Symptoms for

The Left Descending Artery (LDA) or more affectionately named the “Widow Maker Artery” due to its low survivability rate if blocked, is the vessel in which the deadliest of heart attacks takes place. Due to its location, right in front of the heart, and function, supplying the heart with blood, makes it the hardest to operate on. The Left Descending Artery descends directly from the main portion of the Aorta and, if blocked for too long (due to plaque or surgery), can result in serious side affects for the body because of lack of blood. Like mentioned previously, 735,000 Americans a year suffer from some form of cardiac arrest, depending on who’s research you look at, survivability rates of a widow maker are from 5% to 10%. This blockage is no laughing

According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease, the high glucose levels in their blood causes increased damage to blood vessel walls and nerves that control your heart functions. Due to this, heart disease is the leading cause of death within adults who have diabetes. Statistics show they are 2 times as likely to die from heart disease. Other factors can add to this such as smoking, excess belly fat, abnormal cholesterol levels, high blood pressure and heredity. Luckily the steps diabetics take to help their diabetes also helps reduce their chances of a cardiac episode. Even without diabetes, a cardiac episode can affect anyone. According to the American Heart Association, the following are good practices to reduce the risk of heart attack, Stop smoking. If you smoke, quit, choose good nutrition, lower high blood cholesterol, lower high blood pressure, be physically active every day, aim for a healthy weight and manage diabetes. With all these combined you will lower your own risk for heart disease. Though, even if you take all these precautions, cardiac episodes can still affect you even if you are healthy due to stress of negative additives in you