Ischaemia

In medicine, ischaemia is when the blood supply is blocked or restricted. This is usually caused by problems in the blood vessels, and causes damage to the body.^[1] It may also be spelled ischemia or ischæmia. It comes from the Greek words, isch- to restrict and hema or haema meaning blood.

Ischaemic heart disease (Coronary heart disease) is the world’s biggest killer, responsible for 16% of the world’s total deaths. Since 2000, the largest increase in deaths has been for this disease, rising by more than 2 million to 8.9 million deaths in 2019.^[2]

When a part of the body isn't getting enough oxygen-rich blood, the skin sometimes becomes pale or turn blue. When the heart doesn't get blood it turns white.

1. ↑ "Ischemia definition, causes, treatment and details". Archived from the original on 2009-06-26. Retrieved 2009-06-07.
2. ↑ "The top 10 causes of death". www.who.int. Retrieved 2024-05-22.