What is chronic ischemia?
Your coronary arteries may become so narrowed that they limit the flow of blood to your heart all the time, even when you are at rest. If this happens, ischemia can become an ongoing (chronic) condition that can progressively weaken your heart. What is angina? When your heart suffers from ischemia, you will typically experience pain or discomfort in your chest. Angina is the medical term for this chest sensation, which is the most common symptom of coronary artery disease (CAD). It’s important to know that people with CAD who experience angina often describe the sensation as “tightness,” “discomfort,” “squeezing,” and “heaviness.” The pain or discomfort of angina tends to start under your breastbone but may also travel, often to your shoulder, arm, neck, or jaw. Often people also have shortness of breath, sweating, and a feeling of nausea along with the anginal chest pain or discomfort. Occasionally ischemia causes these other symptoms without causing chest pain or discomfort. What is
