Ischemic Heart Disease and Silent Ischemia

What is ischemia?

Ischemia when blood flow and oxygen is reduced in a part of the body. Cardiac ischemia is decreased blood flow and oxygen to the heart muscle.

What is ischemic heart disease?

Ischemic heart disease is heart damage caused by narrowed heart arteries. This is also called coronary artery disease and coronary heart disease. When arteries narrow, less blood and oxygen reach the heart muscle. This can lead to heart attack.

Ischemia can cause chest pain or discomfort known as angina pectoris. Other symptoms can include:

• Pain in upper body
• Shortness of breath
• Sweating
• Indigestion that may feel like heartburn
• Nausea or vomiting
• Dizzy or lightheadedness
• Fast or irregular heartbeat

View an illustration of angina.

Ischemia is most likely to happen when:

• Your heart needs more oxygen and nutrients than it’s getting
• Your heart can’t keep up with the body’s increased demand for blood

This can happen when you are active, stressed, cold or excited.

Your health care professional will talk to you about treatment options. Treatment is based on what causes the ischemia. Medications, procedures or surgeries may improve blood flow to your heart muscle.

You can reduce your risk of ischemia with healthy lifestyle changes, including:

• Staying physically active
• Reaching a healthy weight
• Avoiding all tobacco products
• Consuming a healthy diet high in fruits, vegetables and whole grains
• Taking prescribed medications for high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes

What is a silent heart attack?

Many people have ischemic episodes without knowing it or having pain. This is called silent ischemia. They may have a heart attack with no warning. People with angina also may have undiagnosed episodes of silent ischemia. You may be at a high risk for developing silent ischemia if:

• You have had previous heart attacks
• You have diabetes

Your health care professional may test your blood for:

• Proteins and enzymes that show up when the heart muscle is damaged
• Cholesterol levels

Other tests could include:

• Exercise stress test
• Holter monitor
• Electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG)
• Echocardiogram
• Chest X-ray
• Cardiac MRI