It is a disease caused by a decrease in blood supply to an area of the heart. With the arrival of less oxygenated blood, there is an imbalance between the supply and consumption of oxygen in the myocardial cells that favors their lesion.
The most common cause is a narrowing of the blood vessel due to atherosclerosis, which is formed as a consequence of the accumulation of cardiovascular risk factors: smoking, high blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol, etc.
It typically manifests with oppressive chest pain. It may be accompanied by sweating, nausea, vomiting, choking, pain in the arms and/or neck.
Diagnosis is clinical by interrogation and physical examination. It is confirmed with an electrocardiogram and a blood test.
Treatment aims to prevent the formation of clots that may obstruct the blood vessel and to dilate it to promote blood flow through it. Anti-aggregants, vasodilators and medication to decrease myocardial oxygen expenditure will be administered.
It is a serious condition that requires immediate medical attention.
- Simon A Mahler. Angina pectoris: Chest pain caused by myocardial ischemia. UpToDate. Sep 23, 2015.
- Fihn SD, Blankenship JC, Alexander KP, et al. 2014 ACC/AHA/AATS/PCNA/SCAI/STS focused update of the guideline for the diagnosis and management of patients with stable ischemic heart disease: a report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines, and the American Association for Thoracic Surgery, Preventive Cardiovascular Nurses Association, Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions, and Society of Thoracic Surgeons. J Am Coll Cardiol 2014; 64:1929.
