Coronary Atherosclerosis at 40x Magnification

Coronary atherosclerosis is one of the most pressing medical problems in the United States. The condition, which is characterized by thickening and hardening of the walls of the coronary arteries, is a key contributor to countless heart attacks, strokes, and aneurysms, as well as many cases of ischemic heart disease and peripheral vascular disease. Currently, more than 5 million Americans know that they are afflicted with coronary atherosclerosis, but many more are also subjected to the condition though they are unaware of it. Indeed, even individuals whose coronary arteries have narrowed as much as 50 percent from coronary atherosclerosis may not experience symptoms of the condition. Nevertheless, these individuals are at a heightened risk for a number of related problems, most notably heart attacks, one of the leading causes of death in the country.