When do you really need an angioplasty and stenting?
These standard treatments for most heart attacks may not be necessary in other situations involving chest discomfort.
- Reviewed by Howard E. LeWine, MD, Chief Medical Editor, Harvard Health Publishing; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing
Coronary artery disease occurs when cholesterol-laden debris narrows the arteries that supply blood to the heart. The most common form of heart disease, it is treated with lifestyle changes and medications. However, sometimes people also need a procedure called angioplasty to open a blocked or narrowed artery and improve blood flow to the heart, along with placement of a stent to hold the artery open.
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About the Author
Matthew Solan, Executive Editor, Harvard Men's Health Watch
About the Reviewer
Howard E. LeWine, MD, Chief Medical Editor, Harvard Health Publishing; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing
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