Atherosclerotic plaque can develop within a coronary artery over many years without causing symptoms. Lipids, cholesterol particles, inflammatory cells, and connective tissue accumulate beneath the inner lining of the vessel. As this material grows, it progressively narrows the arterial lumen and disrupts normal blood flow, even while remaining clinically silent. At a critical moment, the fibrous surface covering the plaque may rupture. This exposes highly reactive substances inside the plaque t