Ischaemic heart disease occurs when a blood vessel of the heart is too narrow or is blocked. Research has led to successful treatments such as: medicines that stop blood clotting, reduce high blood pressure and lower cholesterol. Research-based companies are working to develop new agents to try and prevent the tragedy of people dying with the condition called 'Europe's number-one killer'.
Disease: Ischaemic Heart Disease
Last update: June 2008
Intro
FAQ
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What is it?
Ischaemic Heart Disease occurs when a blood vessel to the heart becomes constricted or blocked, leading to a lack of oxygen reaching the heart. There are two main forms of IHD: angina and myocardial infarction (heart attack). Angina occurs when a blood vessel to the heart is constricted; a heart attack when the vessel is blocked. -
Who gets it?
It is estimated that over 1.8 million people a year in Europe have a heart attack, and approximately 8.5 million suffer from angina. An important percentage of people who have a heart attack die within 20 days; in about 30% of cases the patient dies before reaching hospital. -
What can be done about it?
The risk of getting IHD can be reduced by living a healthy lifestyle (diet, exercise, not smoking). Medicines that lower cholesterol, reduce high blood pressure, help prevent excessive blood clotting or treat diabetes may also help prevent the onset of IHD in particular patients. A range of treatments for the treatment of angina are now available. Angioplasty and stenting (to widen narrowed arteries) are also options for some patients.
Preventing blood clots and the deposition of fatty material inside blood vessels is a vital approach to reducing heart attacks. Cholesterol-lowering medicines effectively reduce rates of death and stroke. Other agents have been developed to prevent the dangerous thickening of the heart muscle that may lead to heart failure. There are also medicines which help prevent or dissolve blood clots. -
What does the future hold?
The past 40 years have seen intense research effort into cardiovascular disease. This effort is continuing. New agents being evaluated include compounds that relax blood vessels, those that reduce heart muscle damage, new anti-platelet agents, and new clot-busters.