Ischemia occurs when there is a loss of blood flow through the coronary arteries to the myocardium.
If left untreated this situation leads of myocardial infarction. The loss of blood flow occurs when an artherosclerotic plaque occludes one or more coronary arteries. Artherosclerotic plaques consist of many substances including fibrin, cholesterol, and calcium. Artherosclerosis is not limited to coronary arteries. When plaques form in the carotid arteries of the neck TIAs and strokes may occur.