Coronary ischemia
Encyclopedia
Coronary ischemia is a medical term for not having enough blood
through the coronary arteries. Coronary ischemia is linked to heart disease as well as heart attacks.It is also known as cardiac ischemia.
(heart attack). CAD leads to constricted arteries, which leads to a lack of blood flowing through the arteries as well as oxygen, a process called atherosclerosis
. Atherosclerosis is the most common cause of coronary ischemia.
CAD can be contracted over time. Certain factors play into this, for example, a family history of CAD. Other factors include smoking, high blood pressure, diabetes,obesity, inactive lifestyle and high cholesterol.
Symptoms of coronary ischemia can be classified as typical or atypical.
Other typical symptoms include diaphoresis which is sweaty palms, and clammy skin, nausea or vomiting, or shortness of breath.
These type of symptoms include stomach pain, and simply fatigue. It can also include heartburn and anxiety.
If no symptoms are present it is called silent ischemia.
The doctor will also ask you a series of questions about your medical history. He may ask you if you have a chest pain or shortness of breath in the past. He may also ask you how long your symptoms last, how often they occur and how you may relieve them.
(ECG) he places small metal sensors on your arms, chest and legs.
These metal sensors detect any abnormal rhythms that your heart may be producing. This test is painless and it helps detect insufficient blood flow to the heart.
An ECG can also detect any damage that has been done in the past to your heart.This test can also detect any thickening in the walls of the left ventricles as well as any defects in the electrical impulses of the heart.
During this test you are put on a treadmill or a stationary bike. The incline or resistance of the bike are steadily increased until you reach your target heart rate for your age and weight.
An exercise stress test is not always accurate in determining if one has a blockage in their arteries. Those who are young and are women may show abnormalities on their test even though no signs of coronary ischemia or CAD are present.
This test helps determine if an angioplasty or bypass surgery is needed.
During this test the doctor makes a small incision in the patient's groin and inserts a catheter. The catheter has a very small video camera on the end of it so that the doctor can find the arteries.
Once he has found the arteries, he injects a dye in them so that he/she can detect any blockages in the arteries. The dye is able to be seen on a special x-ray machine.
The test takes one to two hours.
When the coronary arteries become constricted, it can lead to a heart attack. One can suffer temporary chest pain or angina. A heart attack can cause arrythmias, as well as permanent damage to the heart muscle.
If left untreated, coronary ischemia can also lead to a stroke.
By changing lifestyle, further blockages can be prevented. A change in lifestyle mixed with prescribed medication, can greatly improve health.
Smoking increases blood pressure, as well as increases the risk of high cholesterol. Quitting can lower blood pressure, and triglyceride
levels.
Secondhand smoke is also bad for the heart health.
A heart healthy diet is low in saturated fat and cholesterol and high in complex carbohydrates.
Complex carbohydrates include fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. These food choices can reduce the risk of a heart attack or any other congestive heart failure event.
A heart healthy diet also includes low sodium intake and a higher potassium intake. A low potassium intake raises blood pressure. The same goes with sodium.
The Center for Disease Control recommends 30 minutes of physical activity a day.
Instead of 30 minutes a day at one time, short bursts of physical activity for 8–10 minutes three times a day are also suitable. Exercising this way can reduce the risk of getting heart disease or coronary ischemia, if it is performed at moderate intensity.
Blood
Blood is a specialized bodily fluid in animals that delivers necessary substances such as nutrients and oxygen to the cells and transports metabolic waste products away from those same cells....
through the coronary arteries. Coronary ischemia is linked to heart disease as well as heart attacks.It is also known as cardiac ischemia.
Causes
Coronary artery disease (CAD) occurs when fatty substances get stuck to the walls of coronary arteries, which narrows the arteries and constricts blood flow. This causes a lack of oxygen and blood to the heart, which can result in a myocardial infarctionMyocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
(heart attack). CAD leads to constricted arteries, which leads to a lack of blood flowing through the arteries as well as oxygen, a process called atherosclerosis
Atherosclerosis
Atherosclerosis is a condition in which an artery wall thickens as a result of the accumulation of fatty materials such as cholesterol...
. Atherosclerosis is the most common cause of coronary ischemia.
CAD can be contracted over time. Certain factors play into this, for example, a family history of CAD. Other factors include smoking, high blood pressure, diabetes,obesity, inactive lifestyle and high cholesterol.
Symptoms
The symptoms of coronary ischemia can last for a short period of time. The other symptoms that last for a longer period of time may suggest a myocardial infarction.Symptoms of coronary ischemia can be classified as typical or atypical.
Typical Symptoms
Chest pain is a major indication of coronary ischemia. If chest pain occurs while exercising, or during sex, but it doesn't persist after rest, it may be coronary ischemia. Some people characterize the pain they feel as though an elephant is sitting on their chest.Other typical symptoms include diaphoresis which is sweaty palms, and clammy skin, nausea or vomiting, or shortness of breath.
Atypical Symptoms
Most atypical symptoms are seen in woman, diabetics, and the elderly more than anyone else.These type of symptoms include stomach pain, and simply fatigue. It can also include heartburn and anxiety.
If no symptoms are present it is called silent ischemia.
Diagnosis
If there is a suspicion that one may have coronary ischemia, a doctor will administer a series of test to be sure that is what you have. The most common tests today are an electrocardiogram, an exercise stress test, and a coronary angiography.The doctor will also ask you a series of questions about your medical history. He may ask you if you have a chest pain or shortness of breath in the past. He may also ask you how long your symptoms last, how often they occur and how you may relieve them.
Electrocardiogram
When your doctor performs an electrocardiogramElectrocardiogram
Electrocardiography is a transthoracic interpretation of the electrical activity of the heart over a period of time, as detected by electrodes attached to the outer surface of the skin and recorded by a device external to the body...
(ECG) he places small metal sensors on your arms, chest and legs.
These metal sensors detect any abnormal rhythms that your heart may be producing. This test is painless and it helps detect insufficient blood flow to the heart.
An ECG can also detect any damage that has been done in the past to your heart.This test can also detect any thickening in the walls of the left ventricles as well as any defects in the electrical impulses of the heart.
Exercise stress test
The name of this test almost explains itself. A doctor will put you through a series of exercises to measure your tolerance for stress on your heart. This test uses an ECG to detect the electrical impulses of your heart during physical exertion.During this test you are put on a treadmill or a stationary bike. The incline or resistance of the bike are steadily increased until you reach your target heart rate for your age and weight.
An exercise stress test is not always accurate in determining if one has a blockage in their arteries. Those who are young and are women may show abnormalities on their test even though no signs of coronary ischemia or CAD are present.
Coronary angiography
A coronary angiography is performed only after a stress test or ECG shows a sign of coronary ischemia or CAD. This test is very important in finding where the blockages are in the arteries.This test helps determine if an angioplasty or bypass surgery is needed.
During this test the doctor makes a small incision in the patient's groin and inserts a catheter. The catheter has a very small video camera on the end of it so that the doctor can find the arteries.
Once he has found the arteries, he injects a dye in them so that he/she can detect any blockages in the arteries. The dye is able to be seen on a special x-ray machine.
The test takes one to two hours.
Side Effects
Coronary ischemia has some serious side effects if it is not treated. It can cause the increased risk of high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. If not treated, these can both lead to a heart attack.When the coronary arteries become constricted, it can lead to a heart attack. One can suffer temporary chest pain or angina. A heart attack can cause arrythmias, as well as permanent damage to the heart muscle.
If left untreated, coronary ischemia can also lead to a stroke.
Treatment and prevention
Coronary ischemia can be treated but not cured.By changing lifestyle, further blockages can be prevented. A change in lifestyle mixed with prescribed medication, can greatly improve health.
Smoking
A study showed that those who quit smoking reduced their risk of being hospitalized over the next two years.Smoking increases blood pressure, as well as increases the risk of high cholesterol. Quitting can lower blood pressure, and triglyceride
Triglyceride
A triglyceride is an ester derived from glycerol and three fatty acids. There are many triglycerides, depending on the oil source, some are highly unsaturated, some less so....
levels.
Secondhand smoke is also bad for the heart health.
Healthy diet
Diet is a very important factor in getting coronary ischemia or coronary artery disease and preventing it.A heart healthy diet is low in saturated fat and cholesterol and high in complex carbohydrates.
Complex carbohydrates include fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. These food choices can reduce the risk of a heart attack or any other congestive heart failure event.
A heart healthy diet also includes low sodium intake and a higher potassium intake. A low potassium intake raises blood pressure. The same goes with sodium.
Physical activity
By increasing physical activity it's possible to manage body weight, reduce blood pressure, and relieve stress.The Center for Disease Control recommends 30 minutes of physical activity a day.
Instead of 30 minutes a day at one time, short bursts of physical activity for 8–10 minutes three times a day are also suitable. Exercising this way can reduce the risk of getting heart disease or coronary ischemia, if it is performed at moderate intensity.