Ischaemic heart disease Ischaemic heart disease is a disease
characterized by reduced blood supply to the heart. It is the
most common cause of death in most western countries. Ischaemia
means a "reduced blood supply". The coronary arteries supply
blood to the heart muscle and no alternative blood supply
exists, so a blockage in the coronary arteries reduces the
supply of blood to heart muscle. Most ischaemic heart disease is
caused by atherosclerosis. What is it? - Initially there is
narrowing of coronary arteries causing angina. - The narrowing
is mostly caused by fatty plaques lining the wall of the artery.
- Sometimes a fatty plaque will rupture leading to a heart
attack. (Heart attacks caused by simple narrowing are relatively
uncommon). - A heart attack causes damage to heart muscle by
cutting off its blood supply. This can cause: - Temporary damage
and pain (ischaemia) - Loss of muscle activity (acute heart
failure) - Permanent heart muscle damage (acute myocardial
infarction /infarct) - Long term loss