Ischemic cardiomyopathy Health Article

Definition

Ischemic cardiomyopathy is a term that doctors use to describe patients who have congestive heart failure due to coronary artery disease.

"Ischemic" means that an organ (such as the heart) is not getting enough blood and oxygen. "Cardio" means heart and "myopathy" means muscle-related disease.

See also:

• Angina
• Coronary artery disease
• Heart failure

Alternative Names

Ischemic heart disease; Cardiomyopathy - ischemic

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

Ischemic cardiomyopathy results when the arteries that bring blood and oxygen to the heart are blocked. There may be a buildup of cholesterol and other substances, called plaque, in the arteries that bring oxygen to heart muscle tissue. Over time, the heart muscle does not work well, and it is more difficult for the heart to fill and release blood.

Ischemic cardiomyopathy is a common cause of congestive heart failure. Patients with this condition may at one time have had a heart attack, angina, or unstable angina. A few patients may not have noticed any previous symptoms.

Ischemic cardiomyopathy is the most common type of cardiomyopathy in the United States. It affects approximately 1 out of 100 people, most often middle-aged to elderly men.

Risks for this condition include:

• Diabetes
• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• High fat diet
• Obesity
• Personal or family history of heart attack, angina, unstable angina, atherosclerosis, or other coronary artery diseases
• Smoking

Symptoms

Patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy usually have symptoms of angina and heart failure.

Symptoms of angina include:

• Chest pain that occurs behind the breastbone or slightly to the left of it. It may feel like tightness, heavy pressure, squeezing, or crushing pain. The pain may spread to the neck, jaw, back, shoulder, or arm.
• A feeling of indigestion or heartburn
• Dizziness or light-headedness
• Nausea, vomiting, and cold sweats
• Sensation of feeling the heart beat (palpitations)
• Shortness of breath
• Unexplained tiredness after activity (more common in women)

Symptoms of heart failure usually develop slowly over time. However, sometimes symptoms start very suddenly and are severe. Common symptoms include:

• Shortness of breath, especially with activity
• Shortness of breath that occurs after lying down for a while
• Cough
• Fatigue, weakness, faintness
• Swelling of the abdomen (in adults)
• Loss of appetite
• Swelling of feet and ankles (in adults)
• Pulse may feel irregular or rapid, or there may be a sensation of feeling the heart beat (palpitations)