What is Ischaemia?
{{Wikify|date=May 2009}} {{No sources}} In [[medicine]], '''ischaemia''' is when the blood supply is blocked or restricted. This is usually caused by problems in the [[blood vessel]]s, and causes damage to the body.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.omdict.com/definition/ischemia.php |title=Ischemia definition, causes, treatment and details |access-date=2009-06-07 |archive-date=2009-06-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090626142546/http://www.omdict.com/definition/ischemia.php |url-status=dead }}</ref>. If blood supply problems damage an organ, digits or limbs (fingers, finger tips, toes, arms, legs) they become ischaemic. It may also be spelled '''ischemia''' '''ischæmia''' in some countries or writing. It comes from the [[Ancient Greek language|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 [[Death|deaths]]. Since 2000, it has been responsible for the largest increase in deaths overall, rising by more than 2 million to 8.9 million deaths in 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The top 10 causes of death|url=https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/the-top-10-causes-of-death|access-date=2024-05-22|website=www.who.int|language=en}}</ref> When a part of the body isn't getting enough [[oxygen]]-rich blood, the skin may turn pale or blue ([[cyanosis]]). When the heart doesn't get blood it turns white, and this would be because there is no blood in it. Pale or blue skin may be an early warning sign of [[blood perfusion]] issues, blockages or restrictions. ==References== {{reflist}} ==Other pages== *[[Anoxia|Anoxia/Hypoxia]] {{biology-stub}} [[Category:Diseases and disorders of the cardiovascular system]] [[ar:إقفار]] [[ca:Isquèmia]] [[cs:Ischemie]] [[de:Ischämie]] [[et:Isheemia]] [[en:Ischemia]] [[es:Isquemia]] [[fr:Ischémie]] [[hr:Ishemija]] [[it:Ischemia]] [[he:איסכמיה]] [[ku:Îşemî]] [[nl:Ischemie]] [[ja:虚血]] [[no:Iskemi]] [[pl:Nied