In this article we will go through 10 FAQs and answers about IHD (ischaemic heart disease), focusing on its symptoms, causes and treatment.
Let’s start with the basics.
Coronary arteries
Ischaemic heart disease (IHD), also known as coronary heart disease, occurs when the blood flow to the heart muscle is reduced because of a partial or complete blockage of the arteries supplying it with blood.
Ischaemic heart disease is common, affecting 5-10% of the population. Heart failure, which is usually due to IHD, affects 10% of the population. Also 20% of the population have high blood pressure (hypertension) that is linked to both.
Ischaemic heart disease is caused by atherosclerosis. This is age-related chronic inflammation of the coronary arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle. It causes them to harden and accumulate cholesterol plaques on their walls. This is bit like a kettle getting furred up with chalk.
This leads to an increased risk of thrombus formation (blood clots attached to blood vessel linings) within the coronary arteries.
IHD usually presents as chest pain, due to either angina (myocardial ischaemia) or a heart attack (myocardial infarction). It can also present as:
It can be the first presentation of AF or heart failure. These tend to present at fast irregular palpitations (AF) or shortness of breath (CHF).
Both cause similar chest pain – left sided that spreads to the left arm, jaw, neck or back. Angina is when there is partial blockage of a coronary artery. Whereas a myocardial infarction is when there is a blood clot blocking a coronary artery as shown below. Both are treatable.
One of the most common reasons for admission to a coronary care unit (CCU) with IHD is a heart attack (myocardial infarction). Many patients with a heart attack need a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). This is a coronary angiogram/plasty, which is an x-ray procedure used to widen blocked or narrowed coronary arteries (the main blood vessels supplying the heart).
From the community, such a patient is taken to hospital and will often go straight to a ‘cardiac catheter laboratory (‘lab’)’, where the procedure is done, and then they are taken to the CCU.
This is difficult to generalise about, as prognosis depends on which area of the heart is affected, and the chances of repairing damaged arteries. A large proportion of patients can, with appropriate treatment, eliminate the symptoms forever; whereas others may see their life expectancy reduced.
We have described 10 FAQs and answers about IHD (ischaemic heart disease), focusing on its symptoms, causes and treatment.
If you do all of the above, you will get better care. This may help prevent (or improve) complications of heart disease, like heart attacks, angina and heart failure.
“Yes, it is confusing there are so many terms that relate to heart disease – e.g. angiogram, angioplasty, stent, cardiac, coronary, cardiology, cardiologist, ischaemic, IHD, congestive cardiac failure (CCF), coronary care unit (CCU), percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) etc.” [MyHSN Ed]