Terms and Definitions

Artery - vessel that carry blood from the heart through the body

Atherosclerosis - a disease that can affect people at any age, although it usually doesn't pose a threat until people reach their forties or fifties. It is characterized by a narrowing of the arteries caused by cholesterol-rich plaques

Balloon angioplasty - dilatation of an atherosclerotically obstructed artery by the passage of a balloon catheter through the vessel to the area of disease where inflation of the catheter compresses the plaque against the vessel wall

Cholesterol - a soft, waxy substance found among lipids in the bloodstream and cells.Some is needed to form cell membranes and regulate membrane fluidity. Too much can lead to coronary heart disease.

Plaque -  made up of cholesterol, white blood cells, calcium,  and other substances that collect under the inner lining of an artery. Over time, plaque narrows the artery and reduces blood flow to the heart muscle