< Intestinal Ischemia
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Symptoms

Symptoms

Symptoms of acute intestinal ischemia usually include:

  • Unexpected abdominal pain which might be mild, moderate, or severe

  • An urgent requirement to have a bowel movement

  • Recurring, forceful bowel movements

  • Abdominal tenderness or distention

  • Abdominal tenderness or distention

  • Mental confusion in older adults


Symptoms of Chronic Intestinal Ischemia

Symptoms of chronic intestinal ischemia could include:

  • Abdominal cramps or fullness, generally within thirty minutes after eating and lasting one to 3 hours

  • Abdominal pain which gets progressively worse over weeks or months

  • Fear of eating due to subsequent pain

  • Unintended weight loss

  • Diarrhea

  • Nausea

  • Bloating

Causes

Intestinal ischemia happens when the blood flows through the major arteries, which supply blood to your intestines, slows, or stops. The condition has many potential causes, involving a blockage in an artery caused by a blood clot or a narrowing of an artery because of the build-up of deposits, like cholesterol. Blockages also could happen in veins, but they are less common.

Causes and Diagnosis

Causes

Weak or damaged valves could lead to varicose veins. Arteries carry blood from your heart to the rest of your tissues, and veins return blood from your body to your heart so that the blood could be recirculated. To return blood to your heart, the veins in your legs should work against gravity.

Diagnosis

To diagnose varicose veins, your primary care physician will do a physical examination, including looking at your legs while standing to check for inflammation. Your primary care physician might also ask you to describe any pain and aching in your legs.