Ischemia - Causes - Better Medicine

What causes ischemia?

Ischemia is caused by a decrease in blood supply to a tissue or organ. Blood flow can be blocked by a clot or constriction of an artery. It can occur due to gradual thickening of the artery wall and narrowing of the artery, as in atherosclerosis. Trauma can also disrupt blood flow.

What are the risk factors for ischemia?

A number of factors increase the risk of developing ischemia. Not all people with risk factors will get ischemia. Risk factors for ischemia include:

Atrial fibrillation or other heart disease
Diabetes (chronic disease that affects your body’s ability to use sugar for energy)
High blood pressure
High cholesterol or triglycerides
Increasing age
Male gender
Obesity or being overweight
Physical inactivity
Stress
Tobacco use
Underlying vascular disease

Reducing your risk of ischemia

You may be able to lower your risk of ischemia by:

Controlling your blood sugar
Eating a healthy diet
Engaging in physical activity
Maintaining a healthy weight
Quitting smoking and other tobacco products
Reducing your stress level
Taking medications as recommended for heart disease, cholesterol, diabetes, or high blood pressure

INTRODUCTION

What is ischemia?

Ischemia is any reduction in blood flow resulting in decreased oxygen and nutrient supplies to a tissue. Ischemia may be reversible, in which case the affected tissue will recover if blood flow is restored, or it may be irreversible, resulting in tissue death. Ischemia can also be acute, due to a sudden reduction in blood flow, or chronic, due to slowly decreasing blood flow.... Read more about ischemia introduction

SYMPTOMS

What are the symptoms of ischemia?

Although pain is a common, ischemia may occur without any symptoms. Generally, symptoms depend on the location of the ischemia.... Read more about ischemia symptoms

TREATMENTS

How is ischemia treated?

Treatment of ischemia begins with seeking regular medical care throughout your life. Regular medical care allows a health care professional to provide early screening tests and to promptly evaluate symptoms and your risks for developing ischemia.... Read more about ischemia treatments