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Monday, August 01, 2011

Left coronary artery, the widow maker


The heart pumps blood throughout the body through vessels, but it also has its own circulation system. The blood from these coronary arteries supplies the heart with the energy it needs to contract.

One of these vessels is called the left anterior descending branch of the left coronary artery, or the Widowmaker. This artery supplies a large portion of the heart, particularly the section responsible for pumping oxygenated blood to the rest of the body (left ventricle).

The reason it's earned its name is that blockage of this vessel is a serious emergency that requires acting within minutes and happens more often in males. Blockage usually causes the heart to pump irregularly or not at all, placing the entire body at risk.

The most sensitive organ is the brain, which, if not oxygenated properly, begins dying within five minutes.

This was, unfortunately, the cause of death of Tim Russert earlier this year.

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