Why is LAD called the Widowmaker?

The LAD artery carries fresh blood into the heart so that the heart gets the oxygen it needs to pump properly. If it’s blocked, the heart can stop very fast — which is why this type of heart attack is called a “widowmaker.”

What does Widowmaker mean?

A widowmaker is an informal term for a heart attack that involves 100 percent blockage in the left anterior descending (LAD) artery, says Stanley Chetcuti, M.D., an interventional cardiologist at the University of Michigan Frankel Cardiovascular Center.

How bad is a widow Widowmaker heart attack?

Widowmaker heart attacks have severe consequences. Even if a person receives treatment, the heart attack can cause irreversible tissue damage and scarring that can permanently affect the functioning of the heart muscle.

What are signs of a Widow Maker?

Symptoms

• Chest pain or discomfort. This is the most common symptom for women and men.
• Upper body pain or discomfort. You might feel it in one or both arms, your back, neck, jaw, or stomach.
• Shortness of breath. You feel like you can’t catch your breath.
• Nausea.
• Cold sweat.
• Lightheadedness.
• Pain in the back of the jaw.

What are the signs of a Widow Maker?

Can you Stent The Widowmaker?

“Many people can survive widow-makers if we get them treatment right away,” he said. The patient’s blocked artery can often be reopened with a stent. Like other types of heart attack, this one is largely preventable.

Is there such thing as a widow maker heart attack?

You may have heard of the so-called “widowmaker” heart attack in the news or on a TV show. But what is it, and why is it called that? The answer starts with the particular artery that it affects. There are three main arteries in the heart — one on the right side and two on the left side.

Why is the LAD artery called The Widowmaker?

The LAD Artery. The Left anterior descending artery typically supplies over half of the heart muscle with blood, so twice as much as the other coronary arteries. For this reason, a major blockage at the beginning of the artery is often known as the Widowmaker!

What are the symptoms of a widow maker artery blockage?

It causes the same symptoms as a heart attack caused by a blockage in a different artery, including chest pain, chest heaviness, shortness of breath, lightheadedness and cold sweats. In women, the symptoms can be more subtle, like neck or jaw pain, nausea and lightheadedness.

Can a blockage of the LAD artery cause a heart attack?

Blockage of the LAD artery Significant blockages of the LAD artery can be dangerous simply because the LAD supplies such a large territory. A stemi heart attack involving the LAD is typically more serious than other heart attacks. Usually a blockage of the LAD artery has to be more than 70% to cause significant problems.