Physical examination and auscultation

 Ischemic heart disease is the disease caused by arteriosclerosis of the coronary arteries, that is, those responsible for providing blood to the heart muscle (myocardium).

Coronary arteriosclerosis is a slow process of collagen formation and accumulation of lipids (fats) and inflammatory cells (lymphocytes). These three causes cause narrowing of the coronary arteries.

This process begins in the first decades of life, but does not present symptoms until the coronary artery stenosis becomes so severe that it causes an imbalance between the oxygen supply to the myocardium and its needs.  

Causes

Ischemic heart disease is a disease that can be significantly prevented, if you know and control your cardiovascular risk factors. The main ones are:

•More prevalence in older people.

•It occurs more in men, although the frequency in women is equal after menopause .

•Family history of premature ischemic heart disease.

•Increase in total cholesterol levels, especially LDL (bad).

•Decrease in HDL (good) cholesterol values.

•Smoking

•Arterial hypertension.

•Mellitus diabetes.

•Obesity.

•Sedentary lifestyle.

Coronary heart disease manifests itself mainly as angina pectoris or acute myocardial infarction. It can also cause heart rhythm disturbances (arrhythmias).

Both cases are due to lack of oxygen in a part of the heart muscle. Angina pectoris occurs when the lack of irrigation is temporary and does not leave damage. When the lack of oxygen is so prolonged that muscle cell death occurs, myocardial infarction occurs.

Angina pectoris

It is a sensation of pain, tightness or discomfort that usually begins in the center of the chest, which can spread mainly to the arms, neck, back and jaw, is of progressive intensity and limited duration. Many times this pain coincides with exercise, work, sexual activity and emotions, all of which increase the heart's oxygen needs. Angina disappears when the circumstance that triggered it ceases.

At other times, the pain or angina attack appears at rest. In this case, what happens is that a clot is formed on an atheroma plaque that does not completely occlude the artery or a spasm of the artery wall that makes it difficult for blood to pass.

Myocardial infarction

A heart attack is an area of tissue that has died from lack of oxygen. It is characterized by:

•Severe and prolonged chest pain that is perceived as intense pressure, and that can spread (radiate) to the arms and shoulders especially the left, back, and even the teeth and jaw.

•The pain is defined as a huge fist that twists the heart. It is similar to angina pectoris, but longer, and does not respond to nitroglycerin under the tongue.

•The pain is sometimes perceived differently, or does not follow any fixed pattern, especially in the elderly and diabetics, in whom it can be perceived as prolonged pain in the upper abdomen that one attributes to indigestion.

•Difficulty breathing.

•Dizziness: It is the only indicator in 10%.

•Others: Nausea, vomiting, fainting and sweating may occur.

History of unstable angina: frequent attacks of angina pectoris not linked to physical activity.

The myocardium, or heart muscle, can suffer a heart attack when there is advanced coronary disease.

The crown of blood vessels that carry oxygen and nutrients to the heart muscle itself ("coronary" vessels) can develop atheroma plaques (see arteriosclerosis), which compromises to a greater or lesser degree the flow of oxygen and nutrients to the heart itself, with effects ranging from angina pectoris (when the pause of blood flow to the heart is temporary) to a myocardial infarction (when it is permanent and irreversible).

The presence of arteriosclerosis in a given vessel causes narrowings in said vessel and a thrombus to develop more easily in them: a clot of platelets, coagulation proteins and cellular debris that ends up plugging the vessel. An embolism is a thrombus that has traveled through the blood to reach a small vessel where it becomes embedded, occluding it.

A heart attack is a medical emergency by definition. If you think you may be suffering from it or are with someone who may have it, seek medical attention immediately. Delays are a serious mistake that claims thousands of lives each year. @ READ MORE  Cancer and Detoxification