Ischemic Heart Disease or Myocardial Ischemia is a disease in which chest pain occurs when a part of the heart does not receive enough blood. Ischemic heart disease is a common heart problem. Ischemic heart disease is common in the United States and is a leading cause of death worldwide. This condition occurs most often during exertion or excitement, when the heart requires greater blood flow.
Ischemic heart disease (IHD)
It develops when cholesterol particles in the blood begin to accumulate on the walls of the arteries that supply blood to the heart. Also known as Coronary Arteries Disease (CAD). Eventually, deposits called plaques may form. These deposits narrow the arteries and eventually block the flow of blood. This decrease in blood flow reduces the amount of oxygen supplied to the heart muscle.
The signs and symptoms of ischemic heart disease may develop slowly as arteries gradually become blocked, or they may occur quickly if an artery suddenly becomes blocked. Some people with ischemic heart disease have no symptoms at all, while others may have severe chest pain (angina) and shortness of breath that can pose a risk of heart attack.
Fortunately, ischemic heart disease can be treated successfully with lifestyle changes, medicines, and surgical procedures. Even better, you can reduce your risk of ischemic heart disease by following heart-healthy practices, such as eating a low-fat, low-sodium diet, being physically active, not smoking, and maintaining a healthy body weight.
Left untreated, ischemic heart disease may lead to severe heart damage. Heart damage can result in heart attack and shock and may be life threatening.
Symptoms of Ischemic Heart Disease (IHD)
Ischemic heart disease reduces the flow of blood to the coronary arteries, which carry oxygen to the heart. This reduction in blood flow may result in a number of symptoms, which can vary in intensity among individuals.
Common symptoms of ischemic heart disease.
You may experience ischemic heart disease symptoms daily or just occasionally. Common symptoms include chest pain, chest pressure, or shortness of breath that:
Is relieved by rest or medicine
May feel as if pain starting in the chest spreads to the arms, back, or other areas
May feel like gas or indigestion
Occurs repeatedly; episodes tend to be alike
Occurs when the heart must work harder, usually during physical exertion
Usually lasts a short time (five minutes or less)
Serious symptoms that might indicate a life-threatening condition
In some cases, ischemic heart disease can be life threatening.
Any of these life-threatening symptoms including:
Chest pain, typically on the left side of the body (angina pectoris)
Clammy skin
Nausea with or without vomiting
Pain in the neck or jaw
Rapid breathing (tachypnea) or shortness of breath
Shoulder or arm pain
Ischemic heart disease is caused by a decrease in blood flow through one or more of the blood vessels that carry oxygen to your heart (coronary arteries). When blood flow is reduced, the Heart muscle does not receive the amount of oxygen it needs to function properly.
Ischemic heart disease may develop slowly, as plaque builds up over time, or it may occur quickly if an artery is suddenly blocked. For this reason, ischemic heart disease occurs most frequently in people who have atherosclerosis (buildup of plaque on the walls of the coronary arteries), blood clots, coronary artery spasm, or severe illnesses that increase the heart's need for oxygen.
What are the risk factors for ischemic heart disease?
A number of factors increase the risk of developing ischemic heart disease. Not all people with risk factors will get ischemic heart disease. Risk factors for ischemic heart disease include:
Diabetes
Family history of heart disease
High blood cholesterol
High blood pressure
High blood triglycerides
Obesity
Physical inactivity
Smoking and other tobacco use
Reducing your risk of ischemic heart disease
You may be able to lower your risk of ischemic heart disease by:
Getting regular physical activity
Keeping your cholesterol at a healthy level
Maintaining normal blood pressure
Quitting smoking and other tobacco use
Reducing the amount of cholesterol and fat in your diet
Treatment for ischemic heart disease begins with seeking medical care from your health care provider. To determine if you have ischemic heart disease, your health care provider will ask you to undergo several diagnostic tests.
Medications used to treat ischemic heart disease
Drug therapy is commonly used for treatment of ischemic heart disease and includes:
Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, which relax the blood vessels and lower blood pressure
Angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), which lower blood pressure
Anti-ischemic agents such as ranolazine (Ranexa)
Antiplatelet drugs, which prevent the formation of blood clots
Beta-blockers, which lower the heart rate
Calcium channel blockers, which reduce workload on the heart muscle
Nitrates, which dilate the blood vessels
Statins, which lower cholesterol
Many different medicines are available to treat ischemic heart disease. Your health care provider will work with you to select the appropriate medications, depending on your individual condition. It is important to follow your treatment plan for ischemic heart disease precisely and to take all of the medications as instructed.
Surgical procedures used to treat ischemic heart disease
Severe symptoms that are not relieved by medication alone are treated with surgical procedures including:
Angioplasty and stent placement (procedure to remove plaque and restore blood flow in clogged arteries)
Coronary artery bypass graft (procedure that helps restore blood flow to the heart by routing the flow through transplanted arteries)
Ischemic heart disease (IHD)
It develops when cholesterol particles in the blood begin to accumulate on the walls of the arteries that supply blood to the heart. Also known as Coronary Arteries Disease (CAD). Eventually, deposits called plaques may form. These deposits narrow the arteries and eventually block the flow of blood. This decrease in blood flow reduces the amount of oxygen supplied to the heart muscle.The signs and symptoms of ischemic heart disease may develop slowly as arteries gradually become blocked, or they may occur quickly if an artery suddenly becomes blocked. Some people with ischemic heart disease have no symptoms at all, while others may have severe chest pain (angina) and shortness of breath that can pose a risk of heart attack.
Fortunately, ischemic heart disease can be treated successfully with lifestyle changes, medicines, and surgical procedures. Even better, you can reduce your risk of ischemic heart disease by following heart-healthy practices, such as eating a low-fat, low-sodium diet, being physically active, not smoking, and maintaining a healthy body weight.
Left untreated, ischemic heart disease may lead to severe heart damage. Heart damage can result in heart attack and shock and may be life threatening.
Symptoms of Ischemic Heart Disease (IHD)
Ischemic heart disease reduces the flow of blood to the coronary arteries, which carry oxygen to the heart. This reduction in blood flow may result in a number of symptoms, which can vary in intensity among individuals.
Common symptoms of ischemic heart disease.
You may experience ischemic heart disease symptoms daily or just occasionally. Common symptoms include chest pain, chest pressure, or shortness of breath that:
Is relieved by rest or medicine
May feel as if pain starting in the chest spreads to the arms, back, or other areas
May feel like gas or indigestion
Occurs repeatedly; episodes tend to be alike
Occurs when the heart must work harder, usually during physical exertion
Usually lasts a short time (five minutes or less)
Serious symptoms that might indicate a life-threatening condition
In some cases, ischemic heart disease can be life threatening.
Any of these life-threatening symptoms including:
Chest pain, typically on the left side of the body (angina pectoris)
Clammy skin
Nausea with or without vomiting
Pain in the neck or jaw
Rapid breathing (tachypnea) or shortness of breath
Shoulder or arm pain
Causes of IHD
Ischemic heart disease is caused by a decrease in blood flow through one or more of the blood vessels that carry oxygen to your heart (coronary arteries). When blood flow is reduced, the Heart muscle does not receive the amount of oxygen it needs to function properly.
Ischemic heart disease may develop slowly, as plaque builds up over time, or it may occur quickly if an artery is suddenly blocked. For this reason, ischemic heart disease occurs most frequently in people who have atherosclerosis (buildup of plaque on the walls of the coronary arteries), blood clots, coronary artery spasm, or severe illnesses that increase the heart's need for oxygen.
What are the risk factors for ischemic heart disease?
A number of factors increase the risk of developing ischemic heart disease. Not all people with risk factors will get ischemic heart disease. Risk factors for ischemic heart disease include:
Diabetes
Family history of heart disease
High blood cholesterol
High blood pressure
High blood triglycerides
Obesity
Physical inactivity
Smoking and other tobacco use
Reducing your risk of ischemic heart disease
You may be able to lower your risk of ischemic heart disease by:
Getting regular physical activity
Keeping your cholesterol at a healthy level
Maintaining normal blood pressure
Quitting smoking and other tobacco use
Reducing the amount of cholesterol and fat in your diet
Treatment of ischemic heart disease
Treatment for ischemic heart disease begins with seeking medical care from your health care provider. To determine if you have ischemic heart disease, your health care provider will ask you to undergo several diagnostic tests.
Medications used to treat ischemic heart disease
Drug therapy is commonly used for treatment of ischemic heart disease and includes:
Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, which relax the blood vessels and lower blood pressure
Angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), which lower blood pressure
Anti-ischemic agents such as ranolazine (Ranexa)
Antiplatelet drugs, which prevent the formation of blood clots
Beta-blockers, which lower the heart rate
Calcium channel blockers, which reduce workload on the heart muscle
Nitrates, which dilate the blood vessels
Statins, which lower cholesterol
Many different medicines are available to treat ischemic heart disease. Your health care provider will work with you to select the appropriate medications, depending on your individual condition. It is important to follow your treatment plan for ischemic heart disease precisely and to take all of the medications as instructed.
Surgical procedures used to treat ischemic heart disease
Severe symptoms that are not relieved by medication alone are treated with surgical procedures including:
Angioplasty and stent placement (procedure to remove plaque and restore blood flow in clogged arteries)
Coronary artery bypass graft (procedure that helps restore blood flow to the heart by routing the flow through transplanted arteries)
You can improve your ischemic heart disease by:
- Getting regular physical activity
- Keeping your cholesterol at a healthy level
- Maintaining normal blood pressure
- Quitting tobacco use
- Reducing cholesterol and fat in your diet
You can help minimize your risk of serious complications by following the treatment plan you and your health care professional design specifically for you. Complications of ischemic heart disease include:
- Arrythmia (irregular heart rhythm)
- Heart damage
- Myocardial infarction (heart attack)
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