Article: Left main coronary artery disease runs in the family: new research could prompt those at risk to get screened earlier.(CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH)

Families oft en share the same adorable dimples or sparkling blue eyes. Now research finds that something far less agreeable also runs in families--a type of coronary artery disease.

Coronary artery disease occurs when the arteries that feed the heart muscle become progressively narrowed, depriving the heart of the blood it needs to work properly. Left main coronary artery disease (LMD) specifically involves a narrowing of the left main artery to the heart. A significant enough obstruction in the artery may require bypass surgery to redirect blood flow around the blockage.

LMD is more frequently inherited than either coronary artery disease or heart attack in general, ...

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