The left and right coronary arteries are the two main arteries that supply the heart with blood. They branch off from the aorta, which is the largest artery in the body. The aorta arises from the left ventricle of the heart, which is the main pumping chamber. Normally, the coronary arteries branch off from the aorta on the right and left sides respectively, but in this case, both arteries originate from just the right side. Usually this does not create a problem, but in some cases it can predispose one to exercise-related death.
How do symptoms occur?
It is thought that during exercise, the arteries may become "kinked" or "squashed" between large vessels that are greatly stretched with blood. This diminishes the blood supply to the heart, which may precipitate a heart attack or an electrical abnormality that could cause cardiac arrest.
Symptoms
- Chest pain
- Fainting during physical exercise
Diagnosis
Diagnosis is determined with an echocardiogram and if visualization of the coronary arteries cannot be achieved with that, an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) scan is done.
Treatment
- Surgically relocating the left coronary artery to the left side of the aorta
Statistics
After the cardiomyopathies, coronary artery anomalies are considered the second most common cause of death in young athletes.
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