Ischaemic heart disease

Ischaemic heart disease is a disease characterized by reduced blood supply to the heart. It is the most common cause of death in most western countries.

Related Topics:
Disease - Heart

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Ischaemia means a "reduced blood supply". The coronary arteries supply blood to the heart muscle and no alternative blood supply exists, so a blockage in the coronary arteries reduces the supply of blood to heart muscle.

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Most ischaemic heart disease is caused by atherosclerosis, usually present even when the artery lumens appear normal by angiography, see IVUS.

Related Topics:
Atherosclerosis - Artery - Lumen - Angiography - IVUS

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