ABSTRACT
Cardiovascular disease is America’s number one killer. Over one million people die from cardiovascular disease each year. There are currently over 1 million people in the United States (US) each year that suffer from ischemic events (heart attacks) and over half of these people die. As recently as 5 years ago, most physicians would have described the disease process of atherosclerosis in such a way that included the understanding that the fat-laden material gradually built up on the surface of the artery walls. If the deposit or plaque grew and clogged or blocked the artery, this resulted in a heart attack.Today, scientists understand that most heart attacks may in fact stem from less obstructive plaques that rupture suddenly, triggering the emergence of a blood clot, or thrombus, that blocks the blood flow.These plaques have been classified as vulnerable plaques.
