Ischemic Heart Disease
By: Robert NamTotal Views: 295, Word Count: 769,
Ischemic heart disease is also known as coronary artery disease. It is a condition, which affects the supply of blood to the heart. The blood vessels are narrowed or blocked due to the accumulation of cholesterol plaques on their walls. This condition reduces the supply of oxygen and nutrient to the heart musculature, which is very much essential for the proper functioning of the heart. Eventually, this may lead to deprived blood supply to any particular part of the heart, which leads to the death of the heart tissue resulting in heart attack too in some cases.
Causes of Ischemic Heart Disease
There are many factors responsible for the causes of ischemic heart diseases. Whereas, the exact cause for this heart disease is unknown. Controlling the risk factors is the best option to reduce the severity and complications of these diseases.
Signs & Symptoms of Ischemic Heart Disease
- At the early stage of ischemic heart disease there are no symptoms
- However, at the later stage of ischemic heart disease, Angina is the main sign, which gets developed. It leads to burning, squeezing heaviness or tightness in the chest, which may also extend to the left arm, neck, jaw or shoulder.
- Palpitations
- Irregular heart beats
- Shortness of breath
- Fatigue, weakness
- Decreased concentration
- Overall swelling
However, this symptom of ischemic heart diseases seems to differ from person to person.
Risk Factors for Ischemic Heart Disease
Following are the risk factors, which contribute to the development of ischemic heart disease.
- Family history of diabetes, high blood pressure, and coronary artery disease.
- Poor nutrition diet or especially too much of fat in diet
- Previous heart attack or stroke
- Smoking
- Over weight
- Hypertension
- High cholesterol level or Low level of cholesterol
Prevention of Ischemic Heart Disease
Following are the tips, which can help you to reduce the risk of ischemic heart disease. It includes.
- Stop smoking
- Control the cholesterol level
- Eat a low fat diet
- Manage your stress level
- Maintain a healthy body weight
- Eat a healthy heart diet
- Control your blood pressure level
- Perform regular exercise.
Diagnosis for Ischemic Heart Disease
The diagnosis test of ischemic heart diseases depends on the condition of the heart. The diagnosis test may include.
- Echocardiogram
- MRI
- ECG
Treatment of Ischemic Heart Disease
- Drug therapy with nitrates, dilate the diseased coronary arteries, it is very effective to relieve the pain in few minutes. Drugs, which can be used for this therapy, are isosorbide dinitrate and isosorbide mononitrate.
- Beta-blockers are very effective in relieving the pain. It also aids in reducing a myocardial oxygen demand and decreasing the heart rate.
- Surgical therapy is indicated, when the medical treatment fails to relieve the symptoms. Coronary angioplasty dilates the blocked vessels by inflating a balloon inside the vessel. Coronary artery bypass grafting is the other way of replacing the blocked areas of the vessel using a graft , it is done to relieve the blockage
- Treatment also involves an advice regarding a regular exercise, avoiding smoking, healthy heart diet, and changes in the life style.
- Proper control of diabetes and hypertension also significantly improves the outlook.
This above information will help you to guide about ischemic heart diseases. Controlling the above risk factor will play a vital role in prevention of ischemic heart disease.
About the Author
Dr. Robert Nam is a well known heart specialist and has done postgraduate training in cardiology at the national heart hospital, the London chest hospital and UCL hospital, London. He was also engaged in research at the national heart and lung institute. Nowadays he is working as a consultant cardiologist at UCL hospital, London.
Advice Rating: Not yet rated
Login to vote