This condition occurs when blood flow to your heart is blocked due to the buildup of fat deposits. These deposits, called plaque, prevent the heart muscles from receiving enough oxygen to function effectively. A sudden, severe blockage in one of the heart’s arteries can lead to a heart attack or abnormal heart rhythm.
Some common conditions that cause ischemic heart disease include
- (1) Coronary artery disease (atherosclerosis): In this condition, plaques mostly made up of cholesterol build up inside the walls of the arteries and restrict the blood flow. Atherosclerosis is the most common cause of ischemic heart disease.
- (2) Blood clot: The plaques that build up inside the walls of the arteries can sometimes rupture, causing blood clots around the deopsit. These blood clots can further disrupt the blood flow, causing a heart attack.
- (3) Blood vessel rupture : The plaque built up especially around a thin walled blood vessel, can create damage and rupture the vessel, causing sudden bleeding. This leads to decreasing blood supply to the heart, further causing a heart attack.
- (4) Coronary artery spasm:There is a temporary tightening of the muscles in the artery wall, briefly decreasing or even preventing blood flow to a part of the heart muscle. However, coronary artery spasm occurs very rarely.
There is no cure for endometriosis. But with proper medication, diet, exercise, and lifestyle changes, you can effectively manage this condition and go on to lead a healthy normal life.
However, if left untreated, this can cause
- Painful cramping
- Bleeding and
- Stomach problems
It can also result in the following complications.
(Note: These complications happen very rarely. Most women with endometriosis will most probably never develop these complications. Just ensure you always keep your doctor informed).
- Small bowel obstruction. It's a condition where the endometrial tissue develops in the small intestines causing blockage inside.
- Ectopic pregnancy. Sometimes, when the endometrial tissue develops in the fallopian tube, it can prevent the fertilized egg from moving into the uterus. As a result, the fertilized egg is implanted in the fallopian tube itself. This can cause internal bleeding and can be fatal. (Normally, the fertilization of sperm and egg happens in the fallopian tube. After fertilization, the fertilized egg moves into the uterus, where it's implanted, and the fetus develops into a healthy baby)
- Infertility. In extreme cases, when the endometrial tissue develops on the ovaries, it can make it difficult for women to conceive.
It includes
- Obesity
- Hypertension
- Smoking
- Diabetes
- Family history and
- High cholesterol
Some people may not show any symptoms, a condition known as silent ischemia. But people who do show symptoms show one or more of the following symptoms:
- Chest pain or pressure (on the left side of the body)
- Neck or jaw pain
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Sweating
- Fatigue
- Shoulder or arm pain
- Rapid heartbeat etc
Depending on what your symptoms are, diagnosis will be done based on the following tests.
- ECG
- 2D echo
- Stress test
- Angiography
Blood tests include
- Trop T and
- CKMB
Ischemic heart disease, if left untreated, can result in
- Heart attack
- Strokes
- Abnormal heart rhythm, and
- Death
Treatment involves medications, diet, and lifestyle changes.
It involves taking the following drugs based on your doctor's suggestions after proper investigations and clinical examinations. No drug should be taken or stopped without doctor's consultation
- Cholesterol drugs. They help lower bad cholesterol and reduce plaque build-up in arteries
- Aspirin. It helps thin blood and prevents blood clot
- Beta-blockers. It helps lower blood pressure and heart rate
- Calcium channel blockers. It helps improve symptoms of chest pain
- Nitroglycerin. It helps widen the heart arteries and relieve chest pain
- Ranolazine. It helps relieve chest pain
Sometimes, surgeries may also be required to fix a blocked artery depending on the severity of the blockage.
Making lifestyle changes can help keep arteries healthy and prevent and slow coronary artery disease. Try these heart-healthy tips
- Quit smoking
- Manage your blood pressure
- Control your blood sugar levels
- Limit your intake of alcohol
- Manage your cholesterol levels
- Exercise daily
- Manage your stress levels
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