Coronary
Coronary artery disease is the term used to describe narrowing of the coronary arteries. The coronary arteries supply blood to the muscles of the heart. They run from the root of the aorta - the main blood vessel running from the heart - into the muscle itself. Because they are small blood vessels they are at risk of becoming blocked by fatty deposits called atheroma. This is very rare in childhood unless the child suffers from an inherited condition called familial hypercholesterolaemia, where there is a defect in the metabolism of a lipid called low-density lipoprotein - or LDL (see this section). In these cases children can develop coronary artery disease during their teens, causing angina and ischaemic heart disease, described in the adult section. If there is a family history of familial hypercholesterolaemia, it might be wise to monitor the child. Elevated levels of LDL may be reduced by dietary means, but if these are insufficient, medication may be required.
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