❤️ Coronary Arteries: Why Are They Linked to Heart Disease?

Many people hear the term "coronary artery" only when heart disease is mentioned.

This is not a coincidence.

Coronary arteries are directly responsible for feeding the heart itself.

This illustration is a simplified visual map for educational purposes, not a medical diagram.

🩸 What Are Coronary Arteries?

Coronary arteries are the blood vessels that supply blood to the heart muscle.

They:

Without coronary arteries, the heart cannot function.

Why the Heart Needs Its Own Blood Supply

The heart is a muscle that works nonstop.

Even though it pumps blood to the whole body, the heart cannot use that blood for itself.

It needs a separate system — the coronary arteries — to stay alive.

Over time, fatty deposits called plaque can build up inside a coronary artery.

When this happens:

This condition is called coronary artery disease.

A heart attack happens when a coronary artery becomes suddenly blocked.

This usually occurs when:

Without oxygen, heart muscle cells begin to die within minutes.

Blockages in other arteries affect other organs.

Blockages in coronary arteries affect the heart itself.

Because the heart controls blood flow to the entire body, damage to it can quickly become life-threatening.

Coronary arteries:

This is why heart disease may progress without obvious warning signs.

Coronary arteries feed the heart muscle.

When they narrow or block, the heart is starved of oxygen — leading to heart disease or heart attack.