Ischemic Heart Disease

Ischemic Heart Disease (IHD)

Coronary heart disease (CHD), also known as 'ischemic heart disease', is the most common form of heart disease. There are two major clinical forms – heart attack (often known as 'acute myocardial infarction' or AMI) and angina.

Coronary heart disease is the term that describes what happens when your heart's blood supply is blocked or interrupted by a build-up of fatty substances in the coronary arteries.

Over time, the walls of your arteries can become clogged up with fatty deposits. This process is known as 'atherosclerosis' and the fatty deposits are called 'atheroma'.

Causes of coronary heart disease

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is usually caused by a build-up of fatty deposits on the walls of the coronary arteries. The fatty deposits, called 'atheroma', are made up of cholesterol and other waste substances.

The build-up of atheroma on the walls of the coronary arteries makes the arteries narrower and restricts the flow of blood to the heart. This process is called 'atherosclerosis'.

Atherosclerosis can be caused by lifestyle habits and other conditions such as: smoking high cholesterol high blood pressure (hypertension) diabetes. If your doctor thinks you are at risk of CHD, they may carry out a risk assessment. This involves asking about your medical and family history, asking about your lifestyle and requesting a blood test.

Symptoms of coronary heart disease

If your coronary arteries become partially blocked, it can cause chest pain (angina). If they become completely blocked, it can cause a heart attack (myocardial infarction).

Some people experience different symptoms, including palpitations and unusual breathlessness. In some cases, people may not have symptoms of coronary heart disease at all before they are diagnosed.
Angina

Angina is chest pain or discomfort caused by insufficient blood flow and oxygen to the muscle of the heart. In most cases the lack of blood flow is due to a