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Ischemia is a medical term for a shortage of blood supply to an organ or tissue of the body. It’s usually the result of narrowing or obstruction in the arteries that supply oxygen-rich blood to nourish cells. If ischemia is severe and prolonged, it can lead to death of the affected tissue (infarction).

Cardiac ischemia involves the heart muscle (myocardium) and is due to narrowing or occlusion of one or more of the coronary arteries. It often produces the symptom of angina (chest pain) when the blood supply can’t meet the demands placed on the heart by increased physical activity or other stress. In the case of severe or total obstruction of blood flow, death of heart muscle may occur. This is commonly referred to as a myocardial infarction (heart attack).

Treatment of cardiac ischemia focuses on improving blood flow to the heart (with drugs, angioplasty or bypass surgery) and on reducing the heart’s oxygen demands (with medication and physical conditioning).

Cardiac ischemia may be life-threatening even in the absence of infarction because it carries the risk of disturbing the heart’s rhythm. Abnormal rhythms, such as ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation, may cause the heart to be unable to sustain a normal output of blood and lead to fainting or even sudden cardiac death.