Why Do They Call It The Widowmaker?

Why Do They Call It The Widowmaker?

The “widowmaker” is an expression describing the complete closure of the left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery. The LAD is an essential coronary artery and its occlusion can result in immediate death, hence the name.

What does Window Maker mean?

The widow-maker is a massive heart attack that occurs when the left anterior descending artery (LAD) is totally or almost completely blocked. The critical blockage in the artery stops, usually a blood clot, stops all the blood flow to the left side of the heart, causing the heart to stop beating normally.

Can a woman have a Widowmaker heart attack?

Heart attacks can be deadly, and the widow maker is one of the deadliest kind. It can happen suddenly when a key artery that moves blood to the heart gets almost or completely blocked. Without emergency treatment, you may not survive. Despite its name, the widow maker strikes women, too.

What does a Widowmaker heart attack feel like?

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 I lead a normal life after stent?

It’s important to remember that you can live a full and active life with a coronary stent. You can find some general guidelines about returning to working, resuming your everyday activities and making some heart-healthy lifestyle changes below.

Where did the name Widow Maker come from?

The name widow maker probably originated from the fact that A) Men are more at risk for cardiac disease B) When men died of heart attacks, they left behind wives as widows. Other than that logic, I can’t find any evidence to point to a single individual or historical event that this name originated from.

Why is a heart attack called a widow maker?

The term “widow maker” refers to a specific type of heart attack that is known to have grave consequences. It is called this because those who suffer one often die, and the wives of affected men therefore often become widows.

Why is the proximal lad called the widow maker?

Proximal LAD occlusions are called the “widow maker” because it supplies so much of the heart that it is highly likely to be fatal.

Why is a blocked LAD artery called a Widowmaker?

It’s also sometimes referred to as a chronic total obstruction (CTO). 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.” But the widowmaker isn’t always fatal.