Skip to main content

Ischemia

Overview

Ischemia means your heart muscle is not getting enough blood and oxygen. It is usually caused by a narrowing or blockage of one or more of the coronary arteries. These arteries supply blood to the heart muscle.

When you have ischemia, you may feel angina symptoms. For most people, angina feels like chest pain or pressure. Some people feel short of breath. Some people feel other symptoms. These symptoms include pain, pressure, or a strange feeling in the back, neck, jaw, or upper belly or in one or both shoulders or arms.

Rarely, some people have ischemia but do not feel any symptoms. This is called silent ischemia.

Ischemia can happen when your heart needs more oxygen because it is working harder than usual. For example, it might happen when you exercise or when you feel stressed. Ischemia may go away when you rest because your heart is getting enough blood and oxygen.

Related Information

Credits

Current as of: July 31, 2024

Author: Ignite Healthwise, LLC Staff
Clinical Review Board
All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.

Current as of: July 31, 2024

Author: Ignite Healthwise, LLC Staff

Clinical Review Board
All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.

 

PeaceHealth endeavors to provide comprehensive health care information, however some topics in this database describe services and procedures not offered by our providers or within our facilities because they do not comply with, nor are they condoned by, the ethics policies of our organization.