Ischemic heart disease refers to the condition that affects the blood flow and supply of blood to the heart. It mainly happens because of the deposition of cholesterol plaques, which eventually narrows or blocks the blood vessels. Since, it substantially reduces the supply of oxygen and nutrients to the heart musculature. This situation can be a life threatening one. The heart stops functioning properly and the patient experiences the common symptoms of this disease. Most often, it results in heart attack because blood supply to a specific portion of the heart suddenly stops, resulting in the death of certain heart tissues.
The heart plays the most critical role in effective functioning of all other organs in a human body. The main function of heart is to pump blood, oxygen, and other essential nutrients to various other organs. When heart stops functioning properly, the function of other vital organs (such as brain and kidneys) is also affected. A serious defect in the heart may lead to the death of the tissues within these vital organs. This type of heart disease is sometimes also referred to as Coronary heart disease.
Causes
There are several factors that may result in ischemic heart disease. Some major causes include cholesterol levels, diabetes mellitus, and smoking. You obviously cannot prevent or control risks factors like age and family history, but you can definitely prevent other factors. Hypertension may also lead to this condition. Therefore, it is important for you to be informed on how to keep these factors under control.
Symptoms
In most cases, the first sign or symptom of ischemic heart disease that the patient may face is severe chest pain of Myocardial Infarction. Unfortunately, this situation can be fatal. Therefore, you must be aware of other warning symptoms that may occur in the form of Angina Pectoris. Angina refers to the pain over the central chest that most often radiates down the back, the jaw, or the left arm. The pain however may vary in intensity and type from one patient to another. But, the common thing is that the pain is relieved by rest and aggravated by exercise. In general, the pain lasts for 5-20 minutes, but it can occur again after a short interval. Sometimes, the pain occurs with sweating. Some patients describe it as a sense of tightness or compression in the middle of the chest. Besides anginal episodes, there can be several other signs as well, but they are usually observed through a series of clinical examinations. The patient is usually examined for peripheral vascular disease, thyroid, diabetes, obesity, and anemia.
Treatment And Prognosis
In order to bring fast relief from pain, doctors usually prescribe drug therapy with Nitrates, such as Isosorbide Mononitrate, Isosorbide Dinitrate, and others. In case of patients with hypercholesterolaemia, the health care provider may also prescribe drugs to lower cholesterol level.
When drugs and medications do not prove to be helpful in relieving the symptoms of the ischemic heart disease, the patient may have to go through surgical therapy, such as Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting to relieve the blockage and Coronary Angioplasty to dilate the blocked vessel by inflating a balloon inside the vessel.