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 (Figure 1). 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.

Cardiac ischemia: Fast Facts, video

Figure 1 - The heart and the coronary arteries

Coronary arteries are blood vessels that provide oxygen-rich blood and other nutrients to the heart muscle. The coronary arteries attach to and wrap around the heart's surface.

The left coronary artery branches off into smaller arteries. The most prominent ones are the:

• Left anterior descending artery, which supplies blood to the front of the heart.
• Left circumflex artery, which encircles the heart muscle, supplying blood to the back of the heart.

The right coronary artery supplies the back of the heart. The right marginal branch usually extends from the right coronary artery and supplies blood to the lower right side of the heart.

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.