Why Does Ischemia Happen?
The most common cause of ischemia is atherosclerosis, a condition where plaque accumulates in your arteries. Plaque is a hard, sticky substance that majorly consists of fat. It accumulates slowly, so it is usually difficult to determine where it appeared first. Plaques get hardened with time and narrow your arteries. As a result, your blood flow reduces because there is less space for blood to move through. This phenomenon is similar to plumbing in a house, where the pipes drain water slowly and things get clogged up if there is a hunk in the pipes.
Ischemia can also occur because of a blood clot. Plaques are usually not the problem. In some cases, a plaque can burst open and form a clot. Formation of clot results in a sudden and severe stoppage of blood flow. In some cases, a piece of clot can break off and cause problems in other parts of the body.