2026 Critical Care Abnormal Cardiac Function Practice Exam – Comprehensive Test Prep

Ischemic heart disease significantly disrupts the electrical activity of the heart, which can lead to arrhythmias. When the heart muscle is deprived of adequate blood supply, usually due to coronary artery blockage, areas of the heart can become ischemic. This lack of oxygen can cause changes in the heart muscle cells that affect how electrical impulses are generated and propagated.

As a result, it can lead to abnormalities such as altered conduction times, re-entry circuits, or non-conducting areas within the heart, all of which can trigger various forms of arrhythmias. These disruptions can manifest as various conditions, including atrial fibrillation, ventricular tachycardia, or even life-threatening events such as ventricular fibrillation.

The other options suggest that ischemia either enhances stability, mitigates conduction, or promotes repolarization, which do not accurately reflect the detrimental impact that ischemic heart disease has on the heart's electrical function. Instead, it critically destabilizes this activity, which underscores the primary issue associated with ischemic heart disease and its potential to lead to severe cardiac complications.