Angina pectoris Angina pectoris is a medical condition that literally means suffocated chest. The victim feels a sharp pain in the chest for a few seconds, then it disappears. This occurs when cells in the myocardium, the muscular part of the heart, are temporarily denied oxygen. At this stage they do not die, but perhaps they weaken. If left untreated and the disease continues, a serious condition known as myocardial infarction or commonly called a heart attack can occur. This can severely damage the function of the heart. Which in turn affects our well-being. We should be informed about the risks that accompany our cardiovascular system. The most common cause of angina pectoris is excessive consumption of cholesterol. This chemical is only needed in small amounts, but is often consumed in every meal. In the body, cholesterol is responsible for the stability of the plasma membranes of cells and hormones are produced from it. If consumed at a faster rate than necessary, it is stored in the tunica interna, the innermost layer, of the blood vessels. As it is stored, it begins to accumulate and ends up clogging the jar. As a result, all the cells fed by the vessel die due to lack of oxygen. If this condition is caught early, it can be corrected with surgery or, in some minor cases, corrective procedures. Surgical procedures include bypass, laser, and balloon surgery. In bypass surgery, a vein is removed from the lower leg and a blocked vessel is bypassed. Often in this type of surgery the entire central part of the body is cut and the ribs are pulled back, which is very painful and requires a very slow recovery. Some hospitals have now implemented a new technique where only a small hole is made and everything is done via a viewing screen. In balloon surgery a balloon is inserted into the vessel with the blockage and inflated. When this occurs, the vessel is damaged, which causes the cells to repair the damage and clear the blockage. This is not as successful as other surgical techniques and is often performed multiple times before a positive result is observed. Laser surgery is the most recent development. Here they use a laser to actually scrape the buildup off the vessel. This surgery is one of the most expensive surgeries available today. Corrective procedures include lifestyle changes. These can include food intake, exercise and stress-related problems. Food intake is largely the answer to correcting this situation. As shown above, excessive cholesterol intake can increase the risk of heart attack.