HEART ATTACK DETECTION AND PREVENTION - INFRAREDX TECHNOLOGY

Coronary artery disease is the leading cause of death in developed nations. Each year over one million Americans suffer a heart attack; for many individuals this is the first sign of heart disease and is fatal. The cause of most heart attacks is rupture of a plaque in the coronary arteries followed by formation of a clot that blocks the flow of blood to heart muscle. Unfortunately current diagnostic methods, including cardiac catheterization, are not able to prospectively identify the plaques that are vulnerable to rupture. Although prospective evidence is not currently available, these "vulnerable" plaques are suspected to be lipid rich, subsequently leading to thrombosis and a heart attack.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Lipid
• rich
• plaque
• heart
• attack
• symptoms
• signs
• causes
• Vulnerable
• Infraredx