Ischemia is the term used for the condition when the blood supply to various tissues of the body is affected and as the result, the oxygen supply is also interrupted. This mostly occurs with the blockage of the blood vessels. The treatment for this is based on improving the blood flow to the affected area and to reduce the complications.
Myocardial ischemia
This is the condition that develops when the blood flow to the heart is affected and as the result, the oxygen supply also becomes reduced. This can occur as the result of a complete or partial obstruction of the heart’s arteries. This condition can damage the heart muscle and affect its ability to effectively pump. Myocardial ischemia, also known as cardiac ischemia, can also cause abnormal heart rhythms. The conditions that can cause the myocardial ischemia include coronary artery disease (atherosclerosis), blood clot and coronary artery spasm which is the temporary tightening of the artery muscles. Some of the individuals may not experience any of the symptoms with this condition. However, the chest pressure or pain is one of the common symptoms reported by the affected individuals. Additional symptoms that are experienced particularly by the elderly and individuals with diabetes include nausea, vomiting, fatigue, sweating, shortness of breath, rapid heartbeat, arm pain and jaw pain. The treatment focuses on improving the blood flow to the heart muscle. This can consist of medications such as blood thinners to reduce the blood clots, drugs to open the arteries and improve the blood flow, to relax the heart muscle or medications to lower the cholesterol level. Some of the procedures that can improve the blood flow include angioplasty and stenting or coronary artery bypass surgery.
Cerebral ischemia
This develops when the blood flow to the brain is affected thus limiting the oxygen supply which can cause the death of the brain tissue. There are two types of this condition; the focal ischemia that is generally confined to a part of the brain and global ischemia that affects the wide areas of the brain. The focal cerebral ischemia develops as the result of the blockage of the cerebral vessel that can be caused by the thrombosis or embolism. The global cerebral ischemia is usually the result of a cardiac arrest. If this condition persists for a long time, the resulting brain damage can be permanent. Some of the symptoms of cerebral ischemia include blindness, weakness in the body, unconsciousness, impaired vision or body movement, problem with speaking and coordination. Depending on the cases, the symptoms can be mild or severe lasting from a few seconds to a long time. Some of the conditions the cerebral ischemia is associated with include compressed blood vessels, blood clots, very low blood pressure from a heart attack and sickle cell anemia. The treatment focuses on restoring the blood flow to the affected parts of the brain with medications. Depending on the cases, a surgery may be required to remove the blood clots from the brain. In addition, anticonvulsant medications may also be administered to prevent the development of seizures.
References
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/myocardial-ischemia/basics/treatment/con-20035096
http://www.columbianeurosurgery.org/conditions/cerebral-ischemia/
http://www.cerebralpalsysymptoms.com/learn-about-infant-brain-ischemia/brain-ischemia-symptoms/
