Ischemic Heart Disease
Ischemic heart disease, also known as myocardial ischemia, is a condition of the heart where the heart muscles are damaged or do not work as efficiently due to a reduced blood supply to the heart. The decreased blood flow is most often caused by narrowing of the coronary arteries, a condition called atherosclerosis. The risk of getting this disease increases with age, and is more prevalent among smokers than non-smokers. Also at risk are people with diabetes, high blood cholesterol levels, high blood pressure (people suffering from hypertension), and individuals who have family history of the disease.
Ischemic heart disease, also known as myocardial ischemia, is a condition of the heart where the heart muscles are damaged or do not work as efficiently due to a reduced blood supply to the heart. The decreased blood flow is most often caused by narrowing of the coronary arteries, a condition called atherosclerosis. The risk of getting this disease increases with age, and is more prevalent among smokers than non-smokers. Also at risk are people with diabetes, high blood cholesterol levels, high blood pressure (people suffering from hypertension), and individuals who have family history of the disease.
Ischaemic Heart Disease (coronary artery disease or CAD) is a condition in which atheroma (fatty deposits) builds up in the linings of the walls of the coronary arteries. This causes a narrow artery and reduced blood flow to the heart muscle. This process can occur in other arteries of the body. Important arteries which, if affected can have medical consequences, are the carotid arteries in the neck, (which supply blood to the brain), and the femoral /popliteal arteries in the legs. In these situations a bruit (noise) may be heard over the area affected (i.e. carotid or femoral arteries), through a stethoscope.
What is good care for heart disease?
Effective treatment of coronary heart disease (CHD) saves lives. Since 2000, there has been a 40% reduction in deaths from heart disease in people under 75. A national review of heart disease services set out standards that define good heart disease care:
tackling the factors that increase the risk of heart disease, such as smoking, poor diet and little physical exercise
preventing CHD in high-risk patients and where patients have CHD, avoiding complications and tackling the progression of the disease
rapid treatment for heart attack, including the choice of angioplasty in a specialist cardiac centre
rapid diagnosis of heart disease and access to diagnostic tests
rapid access and choice of treatment centre for specialised cardiac care
Treatment overview
CHD cannot be cured but it can be managed effectively with a combination of lifestyle changes, medicine and in some cases surgery. With the right treatment, the symptoms of CHD can be reduced and the functioning of the heart improved.
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