What is silent ischemia?

Silent ischemia occurs when the heart temporarily doesn’t receive enough blood (and thus oxygen), but the person with the oxygen-deprivation doesn’t notice any effects. Silent ischemia is related to angina, which is a reduction of oxygen-rich blood in the heart that causes chest pain and other related symptoms.

Is Silent ischemia serious?

When arteries are narrowed, less blood and oxygen reaches the heart muscle. This is also called coronary artery disease and coronary heart disease. This can ultimately lead to heart attack. Ischemia often causes chest pain or discomfort known as angina pectoris.

What group has silent MIs?

Silent myocardial ischemia is observed in patients with asymptomatic coronary artery disease, in patients with symptomatic angina and painless periods, and after MI.

What time of day is a patient at greatest risk of experiencing silent ischemia?

MI occurs most often in the early morning hours.

How do I know if I have ischemia?

What are symptoms of myocardial ischemia? The most common symptom of myocardial ischemia is angina (also called angina pectoris). Angina is chest pain that is also described as chest discomfort, heaviness, tightness, pressure, aching, burning, numbness, fullness, or squeezing. It can feel like indigestion or heartburn.

How do you test for ischemia?

Diagnosis

• Electrocardiogram (ECG). Electrodes attached to your skin record the electrical activity of your heart.
• Stress test.
• Echocardiogram.
• Stress echocardiogram.
• Nuclear stress test.
• Coronary angiography.
• Cardiac CT scan.

What are the causes of silent ischemia?

Silent ischemia is usually caused by emotional or mental stress or by exertion, but there are no symptoms. Angina is usually caused by increased oxygen demand when the heart is working harder than usual, for example, during exercise, or during mental or physical stress.

What is the prognosis for ischemia?

About prognosis: The ‘prognosis’ of Ischemic heart disease usually refers to the likely outcome of Ischemic heart disease. The prognosis of Ischemic heart disease may include the duration of Ischemic heart disease , chances of complications of Ischemic heart disease, probable outcomes, prospects for recovery,…

What are the signs of ischemia?

Symptoms of Ischemia. The list of signs and symptoms mentioned in various sources for Ischemia includes the 6 symptoms listed below: Discomfort. Pain. Decreased exercise tolerance. Tissue death. Loss of function.

What are the causes of ischemia?

Conditions that can cause myocardial ischemia include: Coronary artery disease (atherosclerosis). Plaques made up mostly of cholesterol build up on your artery walls and restrict blood flow. Atherosclerosis is the most common cause of myocardial ischemia.