Ischemic Heart disease (angina) is a condition that can feel like a heart attack, this condition happens when the arteries are blocked, causing problems with blood flow to the heart. Angina can often resolve quickly, but it is still considered a potentially life-threatening condition. This problem is often considered a warning sign that there is a more serious heart problem that needs attention.
The most common symptoms are:
Some people mistake this condition for severe heartburn or gas. Women often experience angina slightly differently than men and might feel pain or discomfort in the belly, neck, jaw, throat, or back.
Angina happens as a result of heart disease. A fatty substance (plaque) can build up in the muscles. This leads to blocked arteries that prevent blood flow from getting to the heart. The heart must work harder with access to less oxygen. Blood clots can also block the arteries in the heart related to this condition, causing a heart attack.
The risk factors for ischemic heart disease are:
There are various types of ischemic heart disease. During the diagnosis process, your doctor will determine which kind of ischemia you have.
This is the most common version of ischemic heart disease. Physical stress most often triggers an attack. These attacks tend to last for just a few minutes and might pass when a patient rests.
This kind of angina can happen even when you are not being active. The pain can be quite severe and can last a long time. It will often come back.
In this type of angina, you will experience chest pain but no arterial blockage. This version of ischemia is caused by smaller coronary arteries that are not working the way that they should, leading to the heart being deprived of blood. This type is most common in women.
This is a rare form of Ischemia. It happens most often at night. This version of angina is caused by the heart’s arteries suddenly tightening or narrowing. It is very painful and requires immediate treatment.
Ischemic heart disease is often diagnosed through the use of an EKG, and a stress test might also be used to check how the heart is working during exercise. Blood tests can also be done for troponins which are released when the heart muscle becomes damaged. Chest x-rays can be used look for other abnormalities in the chest.
Cardiac catheterization may be done to look at the flow of blood to the heart. Coronary angiography can be done using a dye that is injected into the heart so that the blood vessels can be visualised correctly.
Ischemic heart disease cannot always be prevented. However, you can quit smoking, and you can make sure that you avoid angina triggers such as overeating. Those with diabetes and cholesterol problems should make sure to manage these health problems correctly with the help of a doctor. Getting regular exercise and keeping a healthy body weight can also sometimes help.
The treatment protocol that your doctor will recommend for your ischemia will be based on the severity of your symptoms. You might be given nitrates or possibly calcium channel blockers to take. These relax and widen the blood vessels. You might also be given beta-blockers to slow down the heart so that it does not have to work so hard. Blood thinners can be used to prevent blood clots. Statins might also be given to patients to lower cholesterol levels.
Surgery may need to be done to correct problems with the arteries. Angioplasty, or stenting, can be done to widen narrowed or clogged blood vessels with a small balloon that is inflated inside the narrow spot. A stent can then be placed in the area that was too narrow to make sure that the vessel does not become blocked again.
In severe cases, bypass surgery will be performed. This surgery takes a healthy artery or vein from other parts of the body to replace narrowed or damaged blood vessels in the heart. Enhanced External Counterpulsation (EECP) can also be used to help encourage the heart to make new pathways around blockages on its own.
Many patients with this condition will also be directed to stop smoking and switch to a heart-healthy diet. You will also need to exercise more often and use stress-relieving techniques like meditation to help with worry or anxiety.