What is ischemic pain?

What is ischemic pain?

• A. Pain due to infection in tissues.
• B. Pain resulting from excessive oxygen supply to tissues.
• C. Pain resulting from insufficient oxygen supply to tissues.
• D. Pain caused only by nerve damage.

Answer: (C)

Ischemic pain happens when tissues aren’t getting enough oxygen because blood flow is reduced. When oxygen drops, cells switch to less efficient anaerobic metabolism and accumulate waste products like lactic acid and hydrogen ions. This buildup irritates local pain receptors and triggers a pain sensation that signals tissue distress. This type of pain is typical in situations such as a blocked coronary artery causing heart ischemia or leg muscle pain from peripheral artery disease. The other options describe pain from infection, from excess oxygen, or pain primarily due to nerve damage, none of which centers on the oxygen shortage that defines ischemic pain.

Ischemic pain happens when tissues aren’t getting enough oxygen because blood flow is reduced. When oxygen drops, cells switch to less efficient anaerobic metabolism and accumulate waste products like lactic acid and hydrogen ions. This buildup irritates local pain receptors and triggers a pain sensation that signals tissue distress. This type of pain is typical in situations such as a blocked coronary artery causing heart ischemia or leg muscle pain from peripheral artery disease. The other options describe pain from infection, from excess oxygen, or pain primarily due to nerve damage, none of which centers on the oxygen shortage that defines ischemic pain.