Word parts
What it means
Reduced blood supply to tissue, most often from a narrowed or blocked artery. The tissue is short of oxygen but not yet dead, so the damage can still be reversed if blood flow returns. In the heart, ischemia causes chest pain (angina); in the brain, a short episode is a transient ischemic attack (TIA); in a limb, it causes pain, pale or cool skin and weak pulses. If it lasts, it leads to infarctionin-FARK-shunDeath of an area of tissue (an infarct) because its blood supply has been cut off.Full entry .
For the nurse
Report new or worse chest pain, a cold, pale or painful limb with weak pulses, or sudden nerve changes. For limbs, compare both sides for color, warmth, pulses, feeling and movement.
At a glance
| Spanish | isquemia |
|---|---|
| Also written | ischemic, ischaemia, ischaemic |
Related terms
perfusion
The flow of blood through the body's tissues, bringing them oxygen and nutrients.
coronary artery disease
Narrowing of the arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle, most often from fatty plaque buildup.
infarction
Death of an area of tissue (an infarct) because its blood supply has been cut off.
-emia
A word ending that means a condition of the blood, or something in the blood.