ABSTRACT
A mismatch between myocardial oxygen demand and supply underlies the core principle behind myocardial ischaemia and the consequent presenting symptom of angina. Atherosclerosis is a disease of the arterial wall initiated by lipid retention, which starts in childhood and adolescence, followed by inflammatory response resulting in the formation of plaque. Plaques within the coronary arteries can progress and ultimately cause stenosis by reducing the arterial luminal diameter, resulting in myocardial ischaemia or myocardial infarction (MI). Lifestyle adjustments, pharmacological and interventional therapies can modify the progression and deterioration of chronic coronary syndromes. It is a low-cost test which requires little expertise, and is readily available in most hospitals. A resting echocardiogram is a non-invasive test which provides important information about cardiac function and anatomy. Myocardial perfusion scan (MPS) is a non-invasive nuclear medicine test which provides functional information of the myocardium using radioisotopes.
