Ischemic heart disease is caused by narrowing of the coronary arteries due to plaque buildup, reducing blood flow and oxygen to the heart. It can cause chest pain, heart attack, or heart failure. Risk factors include diabetes, family history, high cholesterol, smoking, and obesity. Treatment involves medications to manage symptoms, open blocked arteries through angioplasty or stents, or bypass surgery. Lifestyle changes like exercise, diet, quitting smoking, and controlling diabetes and cholesterol can also help.

1. SUBMITTED BY –
AASHNAA SAREEN

2. WHAT IS ISCHEMIC HEART DISEASE ?
▪ ischemic heart disease, also called coronary artery
disease , disease characterized by an inadequate
supply of oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle
(myocardium) because of narrowing or blocking of a
coronary artery by fatty plaques.
▪ If the oxygen depletion is extreme, the effect may
be a myocardial infarction (heart attack).
▪ If the deprivation is insufficient to
cause infarction (death of a section of heart
muscle), the effect may be angina pectoris (pain or
discomfort in the chest).
▪ Both conditions can be fatal because they can
lead to heart failure or ventricular fibrillation.

3. CAUSES OF ISCHEMIC HEART DIESEASE
• Ischemic heart disease is caused by a decrease in blood
flow through one or more of the blood vessels that carry
oxygen to your heart (coronary arteries).
• When blood flow is reduced, the heart muscle does not
receive the amount of oxygen it needs to function properly.
• Ischemic heart disease may develop slowly, as plaque
builds up over time, or it may occur quickly if an artery is
suddenly blocked.
• For this reason, ischemic heart disease occurs most
frequently in people who have atherosclerosis (buildup of
plaque on the walls of the coronary arteries), blood clots,
coronary artery spasm, or severe illnesses that increase the
heart’s need for oxygen.

4. What are the risk factors for ischemic
heart disease ?
A number of factors increase the risk of developing ischemic
heart disease. Not all people with risk factors will get
ischemic heart disease. Risk factors for ischemic heart
disease include:
• Diabetes
• Family history of heart disease
• High blood cholesterol
• High blood pressure
• High blood triglycerides
• Obesity
• Physical inactivity
• Smoking and other tobacco use

5. SYMPTOMS OF ISCHEMIC HEART DISEASE
You may experience ischemic heart disease symptoms daily or just occasionally.
Common symptoms include chest pain, chest pressure, or shortness of breath.
▪ May feel as if pain starting in the chest spreads to the arms, back, or other areas
▪ May feel like gas or indigestion (more common in women)
Serious symptoms might include :
▪ Chest pain, typically on the left side of the body (angina pectoris)
▪ Clammy skin
▪ Nausea with or without vomiting
▪ Pain in the neck or jaw
▪ Rapid breathing (tachypnea) or shortness of breath
▪ Shoulder or arm pain

6. TREATMENT OF ISCHEMIC HEART DISEASE
Treatment for ischemic heart disease begins with seeking medical care from
your health care provider. To determine if you have ischemic heart disease, your
health care provider will ask you to undergo several diagnostic tests.
Medications used to treat ischemic heart disease
• Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, which relax the blood vessels
and lower blood pressure
• Angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), which lower blood pressure
• Anti-ischemic agents such as ranolazine (Ranexa)
• Antiplatelet drugs, which prevent the formation of blood clots
• Beta-blockers, which lower the heart rate
• Calcium channel blockers, which reduce workload on the heart muscle
• Nitrates, which dilate the blood vessels
• Statins, which lower cholesterol

7. Surgical procedures used to treat
ischemic heart disease :
Severe symptoms that are not relieved by medication alone
are treated with surgical procedures including:
• Angioplasty and stent placement (procedure to remove plaque
and restore blood flow in clogged arteries)
• Coronary artery bypass graft (procedure that helps restore blood
flow to the heart by routing the flow through transplanted arteries)

8. What you can do to improve your
ischemic heart disease?
In addition to following your treatment plan, you may be
able to improve your ischemic heart disease by:
• Carefully managing your diabetes, if applicable
• Getting regular physical activity
• Keeping your cholesterol at a healthy level
• Maintaining normal blood pressure
• Quitting tobacco use
• Reducing cholesterol and fat in your diet