ISCHAEMIC heart disease (IHD) is more commonly known as coronary artery disease. ‘Ischaemia’ as a term can be simply put as a condition that is categorised by reduced blood flow (hence ‘oxygen’) to a certain part of the body. IHD is a condition wherein the body faces an inability to provide oxygen to the heart muscles. A very common end result of this condition is a myocardial infraction (cardiac arrest or heart attack).
Known causes
The causes for ischaemic heart disease is still unknown. Although, there are a lot of probable theories, a concrete cause of this disease has not been narrowed down.
There are a lot of factors that pose risk of this disease, controlling these has shown favorable results in preventing the disease. These factors are - family history of coronary artery disease, diabetes, high blood pressure or atherosclerosis, smoking, poor nutrition - especially a fatty diet, previous heart attack or stroke, overweight, hypertension, elevated cholesterol and/or low level of HDL (high-density lipoprotein).
Genetic factors like family history of the disease cannot be avoided hence, it’s obvious that the individual will need to maintain a healthy lifestyle from all the other aspects to do their best to keep this disease at bay.
Identify it
IHD has no symptoms in the early stages.
Nonetheless, there are symptoms that you may notice at the later stages — angina pectoris (the patient may feel burning, squeezing, heaviness or tightness in the chest, this may then extend to the neck jaw, left arm or shoulder blade). Ordinarily, angina pectoris occurs after physical activity lasting for not more than a few minutes. It is worse when the activity follows a meal. It can also occur if the individual goes from a low temperature zone to a high temperature zone. Emotional stress can cause and/or worsen it further. Not all people with IHD would encounter angina pectoris. If they don’t, there is a possibility that they suffer from Silent Ischaemic Heart Disease. It is still unknown why ischaemia becomes silent.
Treatment
In stable IHD, antianginal drugs may be used to reduce the rate of occurrence and severity of angina attacks. Treatments for acute coronary syndrome and established coronary artery disease is discussed above in “diagnosis”. Revascularization for acute coronary syndrome has a significant mortality benefit.
Treatment of coronary artery disease includes addressing “modifiable” risk factors. This includes suppression of cholesterol (usually with statins), even in those with statistically normal cholesterol levels, control of blood pressure, blood sugars (if diabetic), regular exercise and a healthy diet. Smokers are encouraged to stop smoking.
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