$Unique_ID{BRK01204}
$Pretitle{Circulatory System}
$Title{What is Ischemia?}
$Subject{heart ischemia angina attack}
$Volume{G-3}
$Log{
Coronary Arteries*0008901.scf}

Copyright (c) 1991   Tribune Media Services, Inc.


What is Ischemia?


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QUESTION:  I read your column each day and today it was about angina.  A
mention of myocardial infarction, or heart attack was included.  Is this the
same as myocardial ischemic disease?  If not what is ischemia?  Thank you in
advance for your answer.

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ANSWER:  It is not difficult to get lost in the maze of terms we doctors use
about disease, and though I should know better, I guess I wasn't as clear
about these conditions as I want to be.  So lets go back and do it again,
hopefully get it right this time.  Ischemia (from the Greek word "ischein" to
suppress, and "haima" blood) literally means a deficiency of blood supply to
the heart, usually from an obstruction or constriction in the arteries that
supply blood to the heart.  Because it is this blood supply that supplies the
oxygen that heart cells need to live, ischemia is also used to describe
situations in which there is an insufficient supply of oxygen to tissues.
When the coronary arteries are the affected vessels, it may be called
"coronary artery disease" as well.  When a sudden blockage of these arteries
occurs, perhaps due to the formation of a clot inside the artery, the heart
muscles are suddenly deprived of their needed oxygen supplies and a "heart
attack" occurs, with all the well known symptoms of acute chest pain and
shock.  If the situation cannot be speedily reversed (and it can in some
incidences, due to new medications and techniques), the muscle tissue dies.
And that's when the word "infarct" is used for it means "an area of tissue
death due to local ischemia resulting from the obstruction of circulation to
the area".  Add the word "myocardial" to the term, ("myo" for muscle, "cardio"
for heart) and the diagnoses is complete.  In the case of angina, the
circulation blockage may not be complete, and the partial reduction of blood
flow to the heart is enough to cause heart muscles to suffer an oxygen lack
without dying.  The pain that this condition cause may make the patient stop
all other activity, reducing the strain on the heart, and giving it a moment
or two to catch up on its oxygen requirements.
ÿ
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The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace 
the counsel and advice of your personal physician.  Promptly consulting your 
doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical 
problem.
