What is mesenteric ischemia?

Artery flow blockage: A person with some blockage in his coronary (heart) arteries gets angina (chest pain from the heart). A person who has blockage in his leg arteries will get leg pains (claudication) when walking. Mesenteric ischemia occurs when a person who has blockage in his mesenteric artery (flows to the intestines) does not supply enough blood to his intestines and suffers abdominal pains.

Artery disease: Mesenteric ischemia is an arterial disease analagous to coronary artery disease causing cardiac ischemia. In this case the arteries supplying blood to the intestines are narrowed or diseased and have blockages impeding the supply of blood (and oxygen) to the intestinal tissues.

Intestinal angina.: Mesenteric ischemia occurs when the blood supply to the intestine is insufficient to maintain it's normal function. When acute, it may lead to infarction of the intestine, which is life-threatening. When chronic, it may cause a nagging intense pain after eating, analogous to angina.

Mesenteric ischemia?: This is 'insufficient blood supply' to you intestines. It can be long-term (chronic) causing pain and many other symptoms or acute (sudden) and fatal... Please seek attention.