Ischemic heart disease is an umbrella term that refers to a variety of different diseases in which the coronary arteries are blocked. Coronary artery disease is a serious condition, but with lifestyle changes and medication, you can make your heart healthier and stronger. Overweight or obesity is a major risk factor for ischemic heart disease. Chest pain. These plaques can also rupture, causing a blood clot. A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. Ischemic heart disease, also called coronary heart disease, is common in the United States and is a leading cause of death worldwide. See our safety precautions in response to COVID-19. This reduction in blood flow may result in a number of symptoms, which can vary in intensity among individuals. You may experience ischemic heart disease symptoms daily or just occasionally. Mayo Clinic is a not-for-profit organization. Atherosclerosis is a process in which blood, fats such as cholesterol and other substances build up on your artery walls. Left untreated, ischemic heart disease may lead to severe heart damage. Book: Mayo Clinic Healthy Heart for Life! After TAVR, it’s especially important to focus on heart-healthy eating. Coronary artery disease (CAD), also known as coronary heart disease (CHD), ischemic heart disease (IHD), or simply heart disease, involves the reduction of blood flow to the heart muscle due to build-up … 10 Things Your Cardiologist Wants You to Know, 7 Facts About Acetaminophen and Your Heart, Occurs repeatedly; episodes tend to be alike, Occurs when the heart must work harder, usually during physical exertion, Usually lasts a short time (five minutes or less), Reducing the amount of cholesterol and fat in your diet. This content does not have an Arabic version. Ischemic heart disease leads to a narrowing of the coronary arteries. Most commonly, this is due to a build-up of plaque (fatty material plus cells) in … Risk factors for ischemic heart disease include: You may be able to lower your risk of ischemic heart disease by: Treatment for ischemic heart disease begins with seeking medical care from your health care provider. Complications of ischemic heart disease include: Privacy Policy | Advertising Policy | Cookie Policy | Privacy Preferences Center | Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Accessed Jan. 31, 2019. What is Ischemic Cardiomyopathy? Almost 10 million people died in the world in 2011, due to these diseases (WHO data 1).. Ischemic heart disease is any heart condition that reduces blood-flow to the heart. Silent myocardial ischemia: Epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis. When they do occur, the most common is chest pressure or pain, typically on the left side of the body (angina pectoris). Ischemic heart disease is developed when there is a constriction in the blood and oxygen supply to the heart because of infections or damages caused to the major heart blood vessels. Get an overview of mitral valve surgery, including what to know about potential risks and complications. Seek immediate medical care (call 911) for serious symptoms, such as difficulty breathing, which may be accompanied by pale or blue lips, rapid heart rate (tachycardia), and severe chest pain. Often times, veterans with ischemic heart disease … Find out what's best. "Mayo," "Mayo Clinic," "MayoClinic.org," "Mayo Clinic Healthy Living," and the triple-shield Mayo Clinic logo are trademarks of Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. Drug therapy is commonly used for treatment of ischemic heart disease and includes: Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, which relax the blood vessels and lower blood pressure, Angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), which lower blood pressure, Anti-ischemic agents such as ranolazine (Ranexa), Antiplatelet drugs, which prevent the formation of blood clots, Beta-blockers, which lower the heart rate, Calcium channel blockers, which reduce workload on the heart muscle.