Ischemic heart disease or coronary artery disease affects the delivery of blood to the heart. This powerful organ responsible for pumping oxygen into the blood supply throughout the body, especially the vital organs such as kidneys and brain. Any deficiency in the heart will affect the supply and this will lead to tissue death.
What happens when you have ischemic heart disease is that blood vessels become narrow or even blocked due to deposition of cholesterol plaques on the vessel.Result is to reduce the supply of vital nutrients and oxygen to the heart muscle. In the end, it will lead to a sudden withdrawal of the blood supply to the heart leading to death in this area and to cause myocardial infarction or heart attack.
There are many factors that cause the development of ischemic heart disease. Smoking, diabetes mellitus and cholesterol levels put you at greater risk. Having elevated blood cholesterol levels will also increase the risk, as well as genetic and hereditary factors. Stress is also thought to be another factor, although it has not yet been determined.
The pain usually is described that feeling of tightness or compression in the center of the chest, and it may take five to twenty minutes. We also tend to break a sweat. It is best to go to the doctor after feeling the pains to verify the presence of this disease. Usually, clinical examination to verify the presence of tendon xanthomas or thickening of the Achilles Tendon and Arcus Lipidus. Anemia, diabetes, obesity, thyroid and peripheral vascular disease are also reviewed.
The treatment of ischemic heart disease may include drug therapy with nitrates, administered sub-lingually. This extended sick coronary arteries. It is very effective when it comes to relieving pain in just a few minutes. Isosorbide dinitrate and isosorbide mononitrate are some of these drugs. They can also be used to prevent pain from taking place.
In order to prevent ischemic heart disease, one must have regular exercise, eat a healthy diet, and keep away from stress. Saturated fats should be avoided to reduce lipid levels and prevent arteriosclerosis.
Another highly effective form of medicine that relieves pain to beta-blockers such as propranolol. This reduces myocardial oxygen demand, therefore reducing the number of heart beats. Calcium channel antagonists would produce vasodilatation and reduces the conductivity of heart muscle and irritability, reducing blood pressure.
If physicians not to treat ischemic heart disease, then surgical therapy is another option. Coronary angioplasty and coronary artery bypass grafting can be applied to get rid of the blockage.
