|
|
Overview for Dietary and Lifestyle or Treatment info
see links at bottom
Ischaemia comes from the Greek
words "Tschein" and "haima" meaning 'restrain' and
'blood' respectively. Ischaemia therefore points to a condition with
an inadequate flow of blood to a part of the body caused by a blockage
or constriction of a blood vessel.
The coronary arteries supply the hard-working heart muscle with oxygen-rich
blood. If these arteries become narrowed with fatty deposits known as
atheroma (the major cause of coronary artery disease) then the heart
muscle (myocardium) is starved of oxygen. This is the major cause of
angina. Angina consists of a squeezing pain in the chest that is usually
precipitated by exertion, cold air, or emotional stress and is relieved
by a few minutes rest to reduce the heart's oxygen demand. The pain
of angina can extend into the left arm, left shoulder and jaw.
Myocardial infarction is the medical term for a heart attack. Infarction
is the death of tissue caused by oxygen deprivation. Hence a heart attack
involves sufficient coronary disease occlusion for a blood clot to form
and totally block the blood supply to part of the heart muscle. While
angina is relieved by rest, myocardial infarction is not. It takes the
form of an excruciating crushing pain under the breastbone that, like
angina, can radiate into the arms, jaw and neck. The patient often feels
very anxious, sweaty and cold.
Overview | Orthodox
Treatments | Dietary
and Lifestyle
|
|
