Ischemia is the condition when the normal flow of blood and the oxygen to a part of the body is reduced. Myocardial Ischemia refers to the lack of blood flow to the heart muscle. This can develop because of a blockage in the coronary arteries for a short period of time which prevents the heart from receiving sufficient oxygen. As the result, it can damage the heart muscle and affect its ability to effectively pump blood. When ischemia becomes severe, it can cause a heart attack and can result in the death of heart tissue. Unstable myocardial ischemia is a serious condition that usually is a medical emergency.
Causes
This develops when the normal flow of blood through the coronary arteries become reduced. Some of the conditions that can also cause myocardial ischemia include coronary artery disease when cholesterol accumulates on the artery walls, a blood clot that can develop when the plaques on the artery walls rupture and a coronary artery spasm which is the temporary tightening of the artery wall muscle. Some of the major risks of developing this condition include cardiomyopathy, previous heart attacks, smoking, obesity, high blood pressure and coronary artery anomalies. In some cases, it can be triggered by physical exertion, stress and exposure to very hot or cold climate.
Symptoms
Some of the affected individuals may not experience any signs of the condition which is known as silent ischemia. Most commonly, the chest pain or pressure on the left side of the body indicates myocardial ischemia. Additional symptoms can include the shoulder or arm pain, fast heartbeat, shortness of breath, neck or jaw pain, nausea, vomiting, fatigue and sweating. It is important to seek medical help, particularly if prolonged or severe chest pain is experienced as this can be an indication of heart conditions.
Diagnosis
Electrocardiogram can measure the electrical activity of the heart, echocardiogram produces images of the heart that can detect the damaged areas and a nuclear scan is used to detect blood-flow problems. A coronary angiography involves a process where a dye is injected into the blood vessels of the heart which delivers detailed images of the blood vessels. The cardiac CT scan can detect the presence of coronary artery calcification and an exercise stress test can also help detect heart problems.
Treatment
The treatment for myocardial ischemia is focused on improving the blood flow to the heart muscle. This can include medications such as aspirin, nitrates, cholesterol lowering medications and calcium channel blockers. Some of the surgical procedures used to improve blood flow include angioplasty and stenting where a catheter is inserted into the artery to inflate and widen the artery and a coronary bypass surgery can create a new path for the normal flow of blood to the heart.
References
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/myocardial-ischemia/basics/treatment/con-20035096
