Ischemic preconditioning is a term that refers to the process of exposing the body to repeated, short periods of ischemia (a lack of blood flow), in order to protect it from the effects of a longer period of ischemia. Synonyms for ischemic preconditioning include ischemic conditioning, ischemic tolerance, and ischemic adaptation. These terms all describe the same process of training the body to better tolerate ischemic episodes, whether through repeated cycles of ischemia and reperfusion, or through exposure to low oxygen levels. While the terminology may differ, the goal of ischemic preconditioning remains the same: to protect vital organs and tissues from damage caused by ischemia.