Angioplasty is done if the blood vessels to your heart (coronary arteries) are blocked or narrowed from a build-up of cholesterol and other substances (called plaque). This condition is known as atherosclerosis which can cause coronary artery disease.
The main symptoms of the blockage or narrowing are chest pain (angina) or shortness of breath. While angina can often be treated with medicines, a coronary angioplasty may be needed in severe cases where medicines aren't enough. After an angioplasty, many people find their symptoms get much better and they're able to do more than they could before the procedure.
Angioplasty may also be done as an emergency treatment after a heart attack, when blood flow to a section of heart muscle becomes blocked.
Angioplasty can increase your chances of surviving more than clot-busting medication (thrombolysis) and can lower your chances of having another heart attack in the future.