What is the real cause of ischemic heart disease?
Ischemic heart disease is a condition where there is insufficient blood and oxygen supply to the heart muscle. When the heart is deprived of blood for a long period, it results in ‘heart muscle death’. When the heart muscle dies, the heart’s contraction gradually decreases, leading to heart failure, also known as heart failure with pulmonary edema, eventually causing the heart to stop beating. The main cause of ischemic heart disease is the insufficient blood flow to the heart due to ‘coronary artery stenosis or blockage’.
Who is at risk of ischemic heart disease?
- People who work hard and rest little
- People with chronic accumulated stress
- Men aged 45 and above
- Women aged 55 and above or post-menopausal
- People with diabetes, high cholesterol, or high blood pressure
- People who are obese
- People who rarely exercise
- People with a family history of ischemic heart disease
How are ischemic heart disease and pulmonary edema related?
The heart is like a pump that pumps blood from the body, sending deoxygenated or dark blood to the lungs. The lungs act like a purification plant, filtering the blood by adding oxygen to turn it into oxygen-rich or red blood, which is then sent back to the heart. The heart then contracts to deliver oxygen-rich blood to various organs of the body.
Therefore, whenever the heart has a problem, meaning the heart muscle cannot contract well, the oxygen-rich blood from the lungs cannot fully return to the heart. Some blood accumulates in the lungs, which we commonly call ‘pulmonary edema’. When pulmonary edema occurs, it causes symptoms such as shortness of breath and difficulty breathing. When breathing is impaired, the oxygen level in the blood decreases. The human heart cannot function normally under low oxygen conditions. Eventually, when the heart fails, various body systems will fail, leading to death in a short time.
What symptoms might be warning signs of ischemic heart disease that require urgent medical attention?
- Chest tightness or pain
- Fatigue, palpitations
- Dizziness, fainting
- Feeling uncomfortable, unable to take a full breath, difficulty breathing
If you start experiencing these warning signs, do not hesitate! Call an ambulance immediately at 1772 because expert first aid during transport to the hospital can reduce the risk of life-threatening complications.
Working hard and over-exercising increase the risk of heart disease
Athletes or those who exercise regularly train their hearts to work hard consistently. However, did you know that over-exercising intensely can cause changes in the heart muscle, thickening the heart walls? It is similar to weightlifting, where the muscles that work hard gradually become stronger and increase in mass. The heart walls behave similarly. When the heart muscle thickens, there is a chance that the electrical system in the heart muscle may malfunction, potentially causing severe arrhythmias. Another case is that coronary arteries may rupture from intense exercise, causing blood clots to block the coronary arteries, ultimately leading to ischemic heart disease.
Accumulated stress damages coronary arteries
For working people, working day and night causes accumulated stress. Although stress can be beneficial by stimulating alertness, when stress becomes chronic, it starts to have negative effects. Stress causes the body to release hormones that stimulate the production of sugar and the release of fat to be burned for energy. When the body’s systems are continuously stimulated to work, it is like a car driving long distances for a long time, increasing the chance of breakdown. The body is the same; when continuously stimulated without rest, various diseases will eventually develop. These are not only coronary artery diseases but also include cerebrovascular diseases and other illnesses.
Dr. Suchai Kanjanatharayanont
Cardiologist
Heart Center, Phyathai 3 Hospital
