ISCHEMIA
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Myocardial ischemia is an intermediate
condition in coronary artery disease during which the heart tissue
is slowly or suddenly starved of oxygen and other nutrients.
Eventually, the affected heart tissue will die. When blood flow is
completely blocked to the heart, ischemia can lead to a heart attack.
Ischemia can be silent or symptomatic. According to the American
Heart Association, up to four million Americans may have silent
ischemia and be at high risk of having a heart attack with no
warning.
Symptomatic ischemia is characterized by chest pain called angina
pectoris. The American Heart Association estimates that nearly seven
million Americans have angina pectoris, usually called angina.
Angina occurs more frequently in women than in men, and in blacks
and Hispanics more than in whites. It also occurs more frequently as
people age--25% of women over the age of 85 and 27% of men who are
80-84 years old have angina.
People with angina are at risk of having a heart attack. Stable
angina occurs during exertion, can be quickly relieved by resting or
taking nitroglycerine, and lasts from three to twenty minutes.
Unstable angina, which increases the risk of a heart attack, occurs
more frequently, lasts longer, is more severe, and may cause
discomfort during rest or light exertion.
Ischemia can also occur in the arteries of the brain, where
blockages can lead to a stroke. About 80-85% of all strokes are
ischemic. Most blockages in the cerebral arteries are due to a blood
clot, often in an artery narrowed by plaque. Sometimes, a blood clot
in the heart or aorta travels to a cerebral artery. A transient
ischemic attack (TIA) is a "mini-stroke" caused by a temporary
deficiency of blood supply to the brain. It occurs suddenly, lasts a
few minutes to a few hours, and is a strong warning sign of an
impending stroke. Ischemia can also effect intestines, legs, feet
and kidneys. Pain, malfunctions, and damage in those areas may
result. |
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| ISCHEMIA RELATED ITEMS |
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