Ischemic heart disease

Alternative names

Ischemic cardiomyopathy; Cardiomyopathy - ischemic

Definition

Patients with this condition have weakened heart pumps, either due to previous heart attacks or due to current blockages of the coronary arteries. (There may be a build-up of cholesterol and other substances, called plaque, in the arteries that bring oxygen to heart muscle tissue).

The term "ischemic" means that an organ, in this case the heart muscle, has not received enough blood and oxygen. "Cardio" refers to the heart and "myopathy" means this is a muscle-related disease.

In summary, ischemic cardiomyopathy is a medical term that doctors use to describe patients who have congestive heart failure that is a result of coronary artery disease.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

Ischemic cardiomyopathy results when the arteries that bring blood and oxygen to the heart, called coronary arteries, are blocked. Ischemic cardiomyopathy is a common cause of congestive heart failure. Patients with this diagnosis may at one time have had a heart attack, angina or unstable angina. A few patients may not have noticed any previous symptoms.

Ischemic cardiomyopathy is the most common type of cardiomyopathy in the US. It affects approximately 1 out of 100 people, most often middle-aged to elderly men. In the older age ranges, the gender difference becomes less pronounced.

Risks include having a personal or family history of heart attack, angina, unstable angina, atherosclerosis,or other coronary artery diseases. High blood pressure, smoking, diabetes, high fat diet, high blood cholesterol, obesity and (rarely) stress can all precipitate ischemic heart disorders.

Symptoms

• chest pain
  o experienced under the sternum
  o may radiate to the neck, jaw, back, shoulder, arm
  o may feel tight, pressure, crushing, squeezing
  o may or may not be relieved by rest or nitroglycerin
  
• sensation of feeling the heart beat (palpitations)
  
• irregular or rapid pulse
  
• shortness of breath, especially with activity
  
• shortness of breath that occurs after lying down for a while
  
• cough
  
• fatigue, weakness, faintness
  
• decreased alertness or concentration
  
• decreased urine output
  
• excessive urination at night
  
• overall swelling