Do you sometimes feel a heaviness, tightness, or aching in your chest when you are a little tired, when you climb a flight of stairs, or when you are feeling a little anxious? Many of us forget this, thinking that it is normal, perhaps gastritis. But not all chest pains should be treated that simply. Perhaps this is a very important signal that your heart is giving you. That is what we are talking about today, that the heart is not getting enough blood.
Simply put, what is Myocardial Ischemia?
The name sounds a bit complicated, but the truth is simple. Myocardial Ischemia is when your heart muscle doesn't get the amount of blood it needs to function properly. We know that blood is what carries oxygen and other nutrients throughout the body. So when the amount of blood flowing to the heart decreases, it doesn't get enough oxygen.
Just like a water motor needs water to run, our heart also needs a constant supply of blood. If this blood supply stops for a while or decreases significantly, the cells in the heart muscle begin to get damaged. If this condition becomes more severe, it can develop into a heart attack (Myocardial Infarction or Heart Attack) .
A heart attack is a medical emergency that requires immediate medical attention, so it's important to be aware of these symptoms.
Who is at higher risk of developing this condition?
Although this condition can occur in anyone, some people are at a higher risk. Take a look to see if you have any of these risk factors.
| Risk factor | Simple explanation |
|---|---|
| High Blood Pressure | When pressure increases, blood vessels can be damaged, causing them to become thin and obstructing blood flow. |
| High Cholesterol | Bad cholesterol in the blood deposits on the walls of blood vessels (like a clot), making them narrower. |
| Diabetes | Diabetes can also damage blood vessels, reduce their flexibility, and impede blood flow. |
| Family history | If someone in your family (mother, father, siblings) has heart disease, you are also at higher risk. |
| Tobacco use | Smoking directly damages blood vessels and increases the risk of blood clots. |
What are the symptoms of this?
The main and most common symptom of this condition is chest pain called angina . This can feel like heartburn or indigestion, but it is a little different.
What does angina pain feel like?
- Feeling like there is a heavy weight on the chest
- Feeling of tightness in the chest
- Chest tightness
- Like a burning sensation inside the chest.
- Sometimes it feels like numbness
There are two types of angina.
Angina can be divided into two main types. It is very important to know the difference between the two.
1. Stable Angina: This usually occurs when you are stressed (e.g., exercising, walking fast). The pain goes away when you rest or take the medication your doctor prescribes (e.g., a tablet to put under your tongue) .
2. Unstable Angina: This is the most dangerous condition. This pain can occur even when you are at rest or sleeping at night. It also does not subside even after taking medication. This can be a sign of a heart attack, so you should seek medical advice immediately .
Symptoms other than angina
In addition to chest pain, the following symptoms may also occur:
- Pain or discomfort radiating to the left arm, shoulder, neck, jaw, back, or stomach area .
- Shortness of breath .
- Feeling cold and sweating .
- A feeling of fullness, indigestion, or a lump in the throat.
- Nausea or vomiting .
- Dizziness , lightheadedness, extreme weakness, or feeling anxious.
- Fast or irregular heartbeat.
People with diabetes, in particular, can sometimes experience silent ischemia or a heart attack without any chest pain. Therefore, they should be very careful about these other symptoms as well.
If you have one or more of these symptoms for more than 5 minutes, it is an emergency. Call 1990 Ambulance Service immediately.
Why does blood flow to the heart decrease? What are the causes?
The main and most common cause of this is Coronary Artery Disease . Simply put, this is a buildup of cholesterol and fat (we call this `(Plaque)`) in the arteries that supply blood to the heart (coronary arteries), causing the arteries to become narrow. Just like a water pipe that rusts over time and becomes clogged. When the artery becomes narrow, the amount of blood needed by the heart cannot flow.
Other reasons:
- Blood Clot: If a fatty layer (plaque) that has built up in a narrowed artery ruptures, a blood clot can form at that location and completely block the artery.
- Coronary Artery Spasm: Sometimes the blood vessels in the heart suddenly constrict, temporarily stopping blood flow.
- Use of drugs such as cocaine.
- Coronary Artery Dissection: This is a very rare condition where the wall of a blood vessel tears.
How do you find this, Doctor?
When you go to see a doctor, he or she will ask you about your symptoms, perform a physical exam, and may also recommend a few tests.
- ECG (Electrocardiogram): Tests the electrical activity of the heart.
- Echocardiogram: A scan of the heart. It can look at the function and structure of the heart.
- Exercise Stress Test: An ECG is taken while you walk on a treadmill, monitoring changes in your heart as you exercise.
- Coronary Angiogram: A special fluid is injected into the blood vessels of the heart and an X-ray is taken to see exactly how blocked the vessels are.
- Blood tests: To check for damage to the heart muscle and check things like cholesterol levels.
What are you doing as treatment?
Treatment depends on the severity and cause of your condition. The main goal is to restore blood flow to the heart muscle and prevent future heart attacks.
Types of drugs:
- Nitroglycerin: A medicine given to provide quick relief from angina pain.
- Beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers: Control heart function and blood pressure, reducing the workload on the heart.
- Anticoagulants (e.g. Aspirin, Clopidogrel): They stop blood clots from forming inside the blood vessels.
- Cholesterol-lowering drugs.
Treatment methods and surgeries:
- Angioplasty and Stent Placement: The blocked blood vessel is inflated with a balloon-like device and a mesh-like device (stent) is inserted to prevent it from becoming blocked again.
- Coronary Artery Bypass Graft: A new blood vessel is created by bypassing the blocked artery using a piece of artery taken from another part of the body.
What can we do to reduce the risk?
Making small changes to your lifestyle can significantly reduce this risk.
- If you have diabetes, high blood pressure, or cholesterol, control them well according to your doctor's instructions.
- Exercise for 30-60 minutes a day, at least 5 days a week. (Even a brisk walk is good enough.)
- Reduce foods high in oil, salt, and sugar, and eat more vegetables, fruits, legumes, and whole grains.
- If you smoke, stop it completely.
- Reduce stress.
- Maintain a healthy body weight.
Take-Home Message
- Don't ignore every chest pain, thinking it's gastritis. Pay attention to it, especially if it's pain that comes on during exertion.
- If chest pain is accompanied by symptoms such as difficulty breathing, sweating, and pain radiating to the arm, it may be a sign of a heart attack.
- If you have chest pain for more than 5 minutes, immediately call 1990 or go to the nearest hospital Emergency Department (ETU). Time is life.
- Identify your risk factors (blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes) and talk to your doctor about controlling them.
- A healthy lifestyle gives you great strength to protect yourself from and control this disease.
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