Silent myocardial ischemia. II. Pathophysiology, relation to risk factors, treatment.

Abstract

The second part of this selective review on silent myocardial ischemia summarizes major hypotheses, viewpoints, findings and conclusions concerning: (a) the pathophysiology of silent myocardial ischemia; (b) the influence exerted by some risk factors for coronary heart disease in the precipitation of silent myocardial ischemia, particularly smoking and psychosocial stresses; (c) the medical treatment of silent myocardial ischemia, which, in a monitored environment, can produce definite improvements in laboratory tests, evolution of coronary heart disease and survival rates.