What Can Go Wrong With the basic features of the heart and circulatory system in mind, it's easier to sort out the different categories of heart disease. This category includes anything obstructing the blood flow. The most common obstruction is atherosclerosis, a buildup of fats and calcium on the interior walls of the coronary arteries.
Atherosclerosis is a progressive problem that, in some people, begins early in life.
It can be the result of genetics, diet, cigarette smoking, high blood pressure, or a combination of some or all of these factors. Angina is chest pain that occurs when the heart receives an inadequate blood supply during periods of increased demand, such as unusual exertion or emotional excitement. During such periods, the coronary arteries ordinarily expand to deliver more blood to the heart muscle. Atherosclerotic arteries, however, gradually become rigid, fail to dilate, and can't meet the demand. In the past, treatment of angina in women has typified the controversy about the perception of heart disease as a male problem.