Brain ischemia

Brain ischemia is a condition in which there is insufficient bloodflow to the <a href="/facts/Brain/EKla9NkJ">brain</a> to meet metabolic demand. This leads to <a href="/facts/Cerebral_hypoxia/rKLaKRC3">poor oxygen supply in the brain</a> and may be temporary such as in <a href="/facts/Transient_ischemic_attack/7eM1EYCg">transient ischemic attack</a> or permanent in which there is death of brain tissue such as in <a href="/facts/Cerebral_infarction/02phzk8P">cerebral infarction</a> (<a href="/facts/Ischemic_stroke/DwpjdzY0">ischemic stroke</a>).
The symptoms of brain ischemia reflect the anatomical region undergoing blood and oxygen deprivation, and may involve impairments in <a href="/facts/Visual_perception/g7Tfaq2l">vision</a>, body movement, and <a href="/facts/Speaking/WEelhfTs">speaking</a>.
An interruption of blood flow to the brain for more than 10 seconds causes unconsciousness, and an interruption in flow for more than a few minutes generally results in irreversible brain damage. In 1974, Hossmann and Zimmermann demonstrated that ischemia induced in <a href="/facts/Mammalian_brain/EKla9NkJ">mammalian brains</a> for up to an hour can be at least partially recovered. Accordingly, this discovery raised the possibility of intervening after brain ischemia before the damage becomes irreversible.

Brain ischemia open-in-new

Brain ischemia