Heart diseases are often underestimated, but, in reality, they are the leading cause of death in the world. Among them, coronary artery disease (CAD) accounts for about a third of all deaths worldwide in people over 35 years of age. CAD is the result of arteriosclerosis, which consists in the narrowing of the blood vessels and the hardening of its walls. In some cases, CAD can completely block the influx of oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle, causing a heart attack.
CAD is caused by an accumulation of waxy grease deposits on the inner walls of the arteries. These deposits consist of cholesterol, calcium, and other substances that travel in the blood; the product of their accumulation is called atherosclerotic plaque. This plaque can clog the coronary arteries and make them rigid and irregular, causing the so-called hardening...