Left Anterior Descending Artery - Functions and Associated Diseases

Introduction

The left anterior descending artery has several names - the left coronary artery, anterior interventricular branch, anterior descending branch, LAD, or simply the coronary artery. The left anterior descending artery is a branch of the left coronary artery. The blockage of the left anterior descending artery poses a great risk. For this reason, the left anterior descending artery is known as the widow-maker artery or the widow-maker infarction.

In order to understand this article better, the below-mentioned vital components of the heart should be known.

• The heart has four chambers- two upper sections, the right, and left atrium, and two lower sections, the right and left ventricles.

• Parallel to four chambers, the heart has four valves: mitral, tricuspid, aortic, and pulmonary.

• The mitral or bicuspid valve allows blood to flow smoothly from the left atrium into the left ventricle. It has two leaflets.

• The tricuspid valve allows blood to flow easily from the right atrium into the right ventricle. It has three leaflets.

• The aortic valve controls smooth blood flow from the left ventricle to the aorta. Aorta is known to be the largest blood vessel of the heart as well as the entire body. It is highly flexible and is why blood flows out of the heart into the rest of the body. It has three leaflets.

• The pulmonary valve primarily allows smooth blood flow from the right ventricle into the pulmonary artery. It has three leaflets.

The artery passes back of the pulmonary artery and emerges forward to the left atrium. It then reaches the sulcus between the two ventricles and drops into the cardiac apex. There have been several different courses of this artery, but the above-mentioned remains the standard course and structure in approximately 80 % of the world’s population. There are two branches of this artery - diagonals and septals.

What Is the Function of the Left Anterior Descending Artery?

The left anterior descending artery is extremely important and serves many functions for the heart and the entire cardiovascular system.

Mentioned below are a few of the functions of the left anterior descending artery of the heart.

• Supplies blood and nutrients to the myocardium.

• The blood supply for the apex of the heart's apex and the notch of the cardiac apex.

• Approximately 50 % of the left ventricle or LV receives its blood supply from the left anterior descending artery.

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• Most critical blood vessel for myocardial supply.

• Conducting system of the heart.

Why Is the Left Anterior Descending Artery Called the Widow Maker?

The left anterior descending artery supplies blood to the majority of the heart’s vital components. In case this artery is damaged or abruptly stops functioning, a massive myocardial infarction or heart attack is followed. The heart attack results in great stress on the heart, and most of the time, the heart ends up in sudden cardiac death.

The reasons why the left anterior descending artery is referred to as the widow maker are mentioned below.

• The left anterior descending artery must not receive even a tiny amount of plaque deposits because plaque and fat or wax accumulation in this artery can lead to rupture of the plaque and thus resulting in death.

• There are only a few minutes to a couple of hours to manage and reverse a case of a heart attack in the left anterior descending artery.

• The symptoms progress rapidly, requiring immediate attention.

• It should also be noted that the symptoms of a left anterior descending artery attack are parallel to that of food poisoning or flu of great intensity.

• Death is inevitable if this artery does not receive constant blood supply or if the blood supply is not restored within a span of fifteen to twenty minutes.

• Attention should be given to the patient’s vital signs because, in a few documented cases, the patient did not have a pulse or breath but was alive due to the oxygen in the blood cells.

• Thus prompt action can help turn the tables over and save the patient’s life.

What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Left Anterior Descending Artery Disease?

The symptoms of left anterior descending artery disease are similar to a case of intense flu or food poisoning. At times the clinical manifestations are parallel to that of a heart attack or an ischemic stroke. For the above reasons, a disease of the left anterior descending artery is also called a silent heart attack.

Mentioned below are the signs and symptoms of left anterior descending artery disease.

• Difficulty in breathing.

• Pain in the left side of the shoulder.

• Radiating pain in the left side of the neck and jaw.

• Tightness of the chest.

• Stabbing type of pain in the ribs.

• Feeling of suffocation.

• Shortness of breath.

• Weakness.

• Fatigue.

• Heaviness of the chest.

• Feeling under pressure.

What Are the Causes of Left Anterior Descending Artery Disease?

Factors that lead to the development of left anterior descending artery are the following.

• A high blood pressure has the ability to weaken the walls of the blood vessels, such as arteries, to damage them.

• Tobacco and related products include nicotine within them, this irritates the arteries as well as the inner tissues.

• Smoking.

• The development and the history of diabetes mellitus is an additional cause of a left anterior descending artery disease.

• Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol.

• Triglycerides.

• Family history of carotid artery disease.

• Old age.

• Lose of the flexibility of the blood vessel.

• Obesity.

• Moribund and no physical activeness.

• Obstructive sleep apnea.

• Lack of exercise throughout the day.

How is Left Anterior Descending Artery Disease Diagnosed?

In a majority of the cases, a disease of the left anterior descending artery is generally diagnosed after the patient has an episode of stroke or manifests a few of the signs and symptoms of the left anterior descending artery. Mentioned below are a few diagnostic methods to detect left anterior descending artery:

• Ultrasonography- duplex.

• CT or computed tomography angiography.

• MRI or magnetic resonance angiography.

• Thermography- infrared.

• Digital substraction angiography.

How to Treat Left Anterior Descending Artery Disease?

A damaged or diseased left anterior descending artery has several ways to be treated. The first and foremost remains the need for prompt action. The exact treatment modality is always suggested after several diagnostic measures.

Below are a few options to treat left anterior descending artery disease.

• Antiplatelets.

• Antihyperlipidemic.

• Antihypertensives.

• Coronary angioplasty.

• Balloon angioplasty.

• Coronary artery stent surgery.

• Atherectomy.

• Laser angioplasty.

• Coronary artery bypass.

Conclusion

The left anterior descending artery is one of the most important blood vessels of the heart. It supplies blood to the majority of the cardiac components. It is referred to as the widow maker artery due to the high risk of death followed by an obstruction in the artery. Quick action is necessary at the time of myocardial infarction. Following a heart-healthy diet along with regular exercise are the key factors in keeping any cardiovascular event at bay.