Ischemic Heart Disease

Ischemia is the deficiency of blood to a part of the body. Ischemic Heart Disease (IHD) is a condition where the heart muscles do not receive proper blood supply. This is usually due to functional constriction or actual obstruction in the coronary vessels (the blood vessels supplying to the heart). IHD develops gradually and is mainly without pain or other symptoms in the initial stages.

Development of IHD
Ischemic heart disease does not develop overnight. It starts with a process called arteriosclerosis, which causes a gradual buildup of fatty tissue in your arteries. Like clogged pipes, coronary arteries may become partially or totally blocked. This is how you start having symptoms whenever heart’s demand for oxygen is greater than its supply.

Diagnosis of IHD
You may have gone to the doctor with symptoms that could indicate heart trouble – such as shortness of breath, chest pain, palpitations, dizziness or black–outs, or your doctor may have picked up signs of coronary artery disease during the course of a routine physical checkup. Sometimes, there may be severe chest pain with sweating, nausea, and shortness of breath. Your doctor will then request for some investigations to confirm IHD.

The Common investigations requested are:

Blood tests.
E. C. G.
Stress test (TMT–Tread Mill Test).
2D–Echo.
Angiography (Invasive Inv.).

At times doctor may ask for:

2D–Echo during stress.
MUGA Study, Stress Thallium Study.

To find out the exact extent and severity of the disease, doctor may also ask you to undergo Coronary Angiographies.

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