Silent Killer

Ischemia is when oxygen is restricted and reduced in a part of the body. This leads to blood flow

also being restricted.

Also known as coronary artery disease, ischemic heart disease is the deadliest disease in the

world, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Abbreviated as CAD, coronary

artery disease occurs when blood vessels that provide blood to the heart become narrowed.

Without proper treatment, this could lead to chest pain (angina pectoris), heart failure, and

arrhythmias (problems with the rate or rhythm of your heartbeat).

This disease was the cause of 360,900 deaths in 2019. About 18.2 million adults age 20 and older

have CAD. This is about 6.7%. About 2 in 10 deaths from CAD happen in adults less than 65 years

old. Mortality rates of CAD have declined in many European countries and in the United States

while they are on the rise in many developing nations. The aforementioned decline may be due

to more widespread healthcare access, prevention form, and public health education while the

aforementioned rise may be due to socioeconomic changes, an increasing life span, and lifestyle

risk factors.

Such risk factors for CAD include high blood pressure, smoking, high cholesterol, a family

history of CAD, being overweight, and diabetes. CAD can be prevented with medications and by

maintaining good heart health which can be done by exercising regularly, maintaining a healthy

weight, avoiding smoking, eating a balanced diet, and avoiding drinking.

Silent ischemia is when people have silent ischemic episodes without pain. This may be a heart

attack without warning. People who have had previous heart attacks, those with diabetes, and

people with angina (ischemic chest pain), may have these undiagnosed episodes of silent

ischemia. Certain tests can be used to diagnose this problem such as an exercise stress test or a

Holter monitor (portable tape recording that records your electrocardiogram continuously).