Widow maker
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A widow maker is a nickname used to describe a highly stenotic left main coronary artery or proximal left anterior descending coronary artery of the heart. This term is used because if the artery gets abruptly and completely occluded it will cause a massive heart attack that will likely lead to death. The blockage that kills is made up of platelets streaming to the site of a ruptured cholesterol plaque. Even a small amount of plaque in this area can (for a variety of poorly understood reasons) rupture and cause death; bypassing chronic blockages or trying to open them up with angioplasty does not prevent heart attack but it can restore blood flow in case of a sudden blockage or heart attack. An example of the devastating results of a complete occlusion of the LAD (Left Anterior Descending) artery is the sudden death of newsman Tim Russert.
From the minute a widow-maker hits, you have a five-minute window of time to get to a hospital or receive emergency care[1].
This is also a term used in the logging industry. It describes any overhead tree or limb that may fall and kill the lumberjack.
[edit] References
- ^ [|Kearl, Mary] (June 2009). "Surviving a Widow-Maker Heart Attack". AOL Health. http://www.aolhealth.com/condition-center/heart-disease/surviving-a-heart-attack. Retrieved June 2009.
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A recent book "The Widow-Maker Heart Attack at age 48' by Patrick J Fox, addresses important points when surviving a 'widowmaker heart attack", including: You do not have to have any of the six risk factors associated with heart attack to actually suffer a heart attack; Not all heart attacks, tests, or symptoms are created equal; PAtrick ZFox is a survior of the same type of heart attack that killed ZTim Russert - after flat lining six times. Included in the book are thoughts in the emergency room and ICU ;'Mount Everest moments; Heart attack-related depression;The sometimes surprising truth about recovery from a heart attack, both physically and emotionally;What families can do in the ICU, hospital room, and beyond for emotional support of heart attack victim; along with inforation for the families and families
