Overview
Myocardial ischemia (or cardiac ischemia) means your heart muscle is not getting enough blood (which contains oxygen and nutrients) to work as it should. If this lack of blood from your coronary arteries is severe or goes on for more than a few minutes, it can damage your heart muscle. Then it becomes a myocardial infarction (heart attack).
A heart attack is an emergency. You should call 911 for an ambulance instead of having someone drive you to the hospital.
Who does myocardial ischemia affect?
People who get myocardial ischemia often have:
- High blood pressure.
- High cholesterol.
- Diabetes.
- A family history of cardiovascular disease.
- A history of tobacco product use.
How common is myocardial ischemia?
Each year, more than 1 million people in the United States die from myocardial infarction (heart attack). This is due to myocardial ischemia, a lack of blood flow and oxygen to your heart muscle.
How does myocardial ischemia affect my body?
Myocardial ischemia makes it difficult to exercise, especially in the cold. As your condition gets worse, you can have symptoms of myocardial ischemia with less and less activity. In time, it can be hard to go up a flight of stairs. Eventually, you can even have symptoms when you’re at rest.
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