Ischemic cardiac disorders impair the heart’s capacity to pump blood, which can result in heart attacks, abnormal heart rhythms, and heart failure. Here’s all you need to know about its origins, risk factors, symptoms in both men and women, diagnosis, and therapy.
Ischemic heart disease, also known as coronary heart disease, is caused by a partial or total blockage of the arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle. If the coronary arteries were viewed as a network of tubes, then as they get increasingly obstructed, the blood flowing through them is stopped from reaching its intended destination, the heart.
Ischemic heart disease is becoming less common in affluent nations due to better therapies and healthier lives, but it is becoming more common in underdeveloped countries. Ischemic heart disease is still the top cause of mortality among people in both developing and developed nations.
Ischemic heart disease, a common ailment, affects a large population in both industrialised and developing countries. “Ischemic heart illnesses arise when blood flow to the heart diminishes, preventing the heart, which is a muscle, from obtaining adequate oxygen,” Dr Yogendra Singh, Associate Director at Max Super Speciality Hospital’s Department of Cardiology in Dehradun, noted in an interview with HT Lifestyle. Ischemic cardiac disorders impair the heart’s capacity to pump blood, which can result in heart attacks, abnormal heart rhythms, and heart failure. The reduction in blood flow is caused by a blockage in the arteries of the heart. The therapy for this problem is typically to enhance blood flow in arteries while concurrently lowering the obstruction.
“Ischemic Heart Disease (IHD) signifies, constriction or blockage in the blood veins above the heart,” explained Dr. MM Yusuf, Consultant Cardiac Surgeon at Apollo Hospital in Chennai’s Greams Road (Coronary arteries). These veins provide blood to the heart muscles, allowing them to operate properly. There are three blood arteries in the heart, two on the left and one on the right. Triple vessel coronary artery disease, also known as multivessel coronary artery disease, denotes illness in all three vessels. Fat deposits within the blood artery create constriction or blockages, reducing blood flow to the heart muscle. This can result in angina (chest discomfort), breathing difficulties, or a heart attack, which can be fatal.”
Symptoms and risk factors:
“The danger of this ailment grows with age and is widespread among the elderly,” said Dr Yugal Kishore Mishra, Head of Cardiac Sciences and Chief Cardiovascular Surgeon at Manipal Hospital in Delhi’s Dwarka. In terms of men and women, males are more likely than women to suffer ischemic heart disease. According to numerous research, men and women aged 65 to 94 are twice as likely as those aged 35 to 64 to suffer coronary heart disease. Myocardial infarction (heart attack) is the most prevalent sign of ischemic heart disease in males, while angina pectoris is the most common symptom in women.”
Dr. MM Yusuf attributed diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, and a family history of IHD as common risk factors for ischemic heart disease.
Diagnosis:
According to Dr. Yogendra Singh, if you have chronic or severe chest discomfort, you should seek medical attention. “An ischemic heart disease may be identified using an ECG, stress test, echocardiography, coronary angiography, and cardiac CT scan, which will identify which artery or arteries are affected,” he explained.Depending on the severity of your ailment, your doctor may recommend medicines, surgery, or a combination of the two. To assist treat coronary artery disease and lower your risk of issues, consume a balanced diet reduced in saturated fat, cholesterol, and salt. You will also be advised on how to exercise safely given your condition. Don’t think of lifestyle changes as a quick fix. Instead, strive to develop long-term healthful habits.”
Ischemic Heart Disease Treatment
“Increasing blood flow to the heart muscle is part of the treatment for ischemic heart disease,” said Dr. Yugal Kishore Mishra. Prescription medicines, an angioplasty operation to open blocked arteries, or bypass surgery are all alternatives for treatment. Each class of therapy for ischemic heart disease has a number of options. Using medicine to manage any ischemia attacks is sometimes the best line of action. In some cases, when dealing with a more significant problem or when treatment is insufficient, it is advised to unblock the artery.”
“Sometimes, there might be several lesions or blocked coronary arteries that make angioplasty difficult, thus in such circumstances, heart bypass surgery may be the best alternative to open up the clogged arteries of the heart,” he added. Heart bypass surgery with robotic assistance is regarded as the finest treatment option for heart disease. Robotic heart surgery is conducted through relatively tiny incisions in the chest. Surgeons can use robot-controlled equipment and tiny devices to do open-heart surgery with less stress than they can using minimally invasive methods. This can be reinforced by long-term therapy to avoid a recurrence of angina or an infarction (heart attack). A combination of lifestyle changes and pharmacological therapy is recommended to reduce the risk of heart disease.”
Causes, risk factors, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of coronary heart disease
