Ischemic Heart Disease

Ischemic Heart Disease

Ischemic heart disease (IHD), also known as coronary artery disease (CAD), is a condition characterized by reduced blood flow to the heart muscle due to the narrowing or blockage of the coronary arteries. This condition is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide.

Pathophysiology

The primary cause of ischemic heart disease is atherosclerosis, a process in which plaques composed of fat, cholesterol, and other substances build up on the walls of the coronary arteries. Over time, these plaques can harden and narrow the arteries, reducing blood flow to the heart muscle. This can lead to angina pectoris, myocardial infarction (heart attack), and other complications.

Risk Factors

Several risk factors contribute to the development of ischemic heart disease, including:

• Non-modifiable risk factors: Age, gender, and family history of heart disease.
• Modifiable risk factors: High blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, smoking, diabetes, obesity, physical inactivity, and unhealthy diet.

Symptoms

The symptoms of ischemic heart disease can vary depending on the severity of the condition. Common symptoms include:

• Chest pain or discomfort (angina)
• Shortness of breath
• Fatigue
• Palpitations
• Dizziness or lightheadedness

Diagnosis

The diagnosis of ischemic heart disease typically involves a combination of:

• Medical history and physical examination
• Electrocardiogram (ECG): To detect abnormalities in the heart's electrical activity.
• Stress testing: To assess how the heart functions under physical stress.
• Echocardiography: To visualize the heart's structure and function.
• Coronary angiography: To visualize the coronary arteries and identify blockages.

Treatment

Treatment for ischemic heart disease aims to relieve symptoms, improve quality of life, and prevent complications. It may include:

• Lifestyle modifications: Such as adopting a heart-healthy diet, regular exercise, smoking cessation, and weight management.
• Medications: Including antiplatelet agents, beta-blockers, statins, and nitrates.
• Revascularization procedures: Such as percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).

Prevention

Preventive measures for ischemic heart disease focus on controlling risk factors through lifestyle changes and medical management. Regular health screenings and monitoring of blood pressure, cholesterol, and glucose levels are essential.

Prognosis

The prognosis for individuals with ischemic heart disease varies based on the severity of the disease, the presence of risk factors, and adherence to treatment. Early detection and management can significantly improve outcomes.

Also see

• Atherosclerosis
• Myocardial infarction
• Angina pectoris
• Coronary artery bypass surgery
• Percutaneous coronary intervention

Cardiovascular disease A-Z

Most common cardiac diseases

• Cardiac arrhythmia‎
• Cardiogenetic disorders‎
• Cardiomegaly‎
• Cardiomyopathy‎
• Cardiopulmonary resuscitation‎
• Chronic rheumatic heart diseases‎
• Congenital heart defects‎
• Heart neoplasia‎
• Ischemic heart diseases‎
• Pericardial disorders
• Syndromes affecting the heart‎
• Valvular heart disease‎

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

A

• Accelerated idioventricular rhythm
• Acute decompensated heart failure
• Arteriosclerotic heart disease
• Athletic heart syndrome
• Atrial flutter
• Atrioventricular fistula
• Cardiovascular disease in Australia
• Autoimmune heart disease

B

• Brown atrophy of the heart

C

• Ebb Cade
• Cardiac allograft vasculopathy
• Cardiac amyloidosis
• Cardiac asthma
• Cardiac tamponade
• Cardiogenic shock
• Cardiogeriatrics
• Cardiorenal syndrome
• Cardiotoxicity
• Carditis
• Coronary artery aneurysm
• Coronary artery anomaly
• Coronary artery disease
• Spontaneous coronary artery dissection
• Coronary artery ectasia
• Coronary occlusion
• Coronary steal
• Coronary thrombosis
• Coronary vasospasm
• Cœur en sabot
• Coxsackievirus-induced cardiomyopathy

D

• Duke Treadmill Score
• Duroziez's disease

E

• Eisenmenger's syndrome
• Embryocardia
• Endocardial fibroelastosis
• Eosinophilic myocarditis

H

• Heart attack
• Heart failure
• Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction
• Heart to Heart (1949 film)
• High-output heart failure
• Hyperdynamic precordium

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

I

• Idiopathic giant-cell myocarditis
• Interventricular dyssynchrony
• Intraventricular dyssynchrony
• Isolated atrial amyloidosis

K

• Keshan disease

L

• Loeffler endocarditis

M

• Mydicar
• Myocardial bridge
• Myocardial disarray
• Myocardial rupture
• Myocardial scarring
• Myocardial stunning
• Myocarditis

N

• Nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis

O

• OLR1
• Ostial disease

P

• Papillary fibroelastoma
• Pathophysiology of heart failure
• Postpericardiotomy syndrome
• Pulmonary vein stenosis

R

• Right axis deviation
• Roemheld syndrome

S

• Saturated fat and cardiovascular disease
• SCAR-Fc
• Shone's syndrome
• Strain pattern
• Subacute bacterial endocarditis
• Sudden cardiac death of athletes

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

T

• Traumatic cardiac arrest

V

• Ventricular aneurysm
• Vibroacoustic disease
• Viral cardiomyopathy

W

• Waon therapy