Myocardial ischemia

Myocardial ischemia is an imbalance between myocardial oxygen supply and demand. Left untreated, it results in angina pectoris, myocardial stunning, myocardial hibernation,ischemic preconditioning, postconditioning, or under the most severe instances, acute coronary syndrome and myocardial infarction.

Myocardial ischemia is the pathological state underlying ischaemic heart disease.

Myocardial Ischemia Causes

Myocardial ischemia is a multi-factorial disease. A host of factors is responsible for the development of the condition:

• Elevated levels of serum cholesterol due to faulty diet, irregular lifestyle and no exercise.
• Atherosclerosis or deposition of cholesterol plaques within the arterial walls.
• Coronary artery disease
• Coronary spasm
• Blood clots
• Stress
• Smoking
• Infection
• Bleeding

Myocardial Ischemia Symptoms

Clinical manifestations of myocardial ischemia are:

• Left sided chest pain
• Pain radiating down to the left arm
• Shoulder pain
• Neck pain
• Jaw pain
• Breathlessness, gasping
• Nausea and vomiting
• Cough
• Sweaty palms
• Giddiness
• Palpitations and irregular pulse
• Occasionally, there may not be any presenting symptoms; such a condition is called silent ischemia.

Posted in: cardiology