Ischemic heart disease, also known as coronary artery disease or coronary heart disease is the term given to heart problems caused by narrowed heart arteries. With ischemic heart disease, the arteries of the heart narrow from a build up of fatty deposits (cholesterol plaques) on their interior linings. Such build-up can suddenly develop a blood clot on top of the fatty deposit. The clot lessens the flow of blood and oxygen to the heart muscle, and may cause a portion of the heart muscle to die if blood flow is not restored quickly.
When arteries are narrowed less blood and oxygen reaches the heart muscle causing chest pain or angina pectoris. An estimated 500,000 new cases of stable angina occur each year.
Heart Attack
Acute myocardial infarction (heart attack) is a common complication of ischemic heart disease. When any portion of the heart muscle dies, it is replaced by fibrosis, resulting in scar tissue. The heart's ability to pump blood to the rest of the body is often impaired.
Ischemic Heart Disease and Sudden Cardiac Death
Ischemic heart disease may also lead to sudden cardiac death — the cause of death for some 310,000 U.S. adults each year. Sudden cardiac death in patients with ischemic heart disease is usually caused by an abnormal heart rhythm called ventricular fibrillation, which prevents the heart from contracting and stops blood flow to the brain and other vital organs. Patient's who experience sudden cardiac death will die unless they receive cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and electric shock with an external defibrillator to quickly restart the heart and resume blood flow.
