Pathophysiology

Pathophysiology Study Guide

©2018 of 131 occur after a major heart attack. Other causes of pericarditis are systemic inflammatory disorder, trauma, and health disorders like kidney failure, tuberculosis, AIDS, and cancer. Symptoms include piercing pain in the center or left side of the chest, shortness of breath while reclining, palpitations, low grade fever, weakness and fatigue, cough, and swelling in the legs and abdomen. 3.8 Peripheral Vascular Disease Peripheral vascular disease is a disorder of the circulatory system that impacts the blood vessels outside the brain and heart. This disorder affects the veins and arteries that supply blood to different limbs of the body. The most affected organs are the legs and feet. Risk factors include hypertension, hyperlipidemia, smoking, diabetes mellitus, abdominal obesity, kidney disease, organ transplant, familial predisposition, advancing age, stress, and sedentary lifestyle. Some peripheral vascular diseases are discussed below. Arterial Peripheral artery diseases (PAD) occur in the arteries when blood is not circulated properly from the heart to various limbs. It mostly affects the legs and feet when the blood supply to these organs is inadequate. Problems due to PAD are discussed below. Occlusive Arterial Disease Occlusive arterial disease is generally caused due to atherosclerosis, as the arteries narrow due to cholesterol and fatty deposits, restricting the blood supply to different organs, causing ischemia. This disorder is common among people who are obese, have a sedimentary lifestyle, high cholesterol levels, high homocysterine levels, hypertension, and a family history of atherosclerosis. It can also be caused by abnormal growth of muscles on the walls of the arteries, known as fibromuscular dysplasia; vasculitis; and a rise in pressure from a tumor or cyst outside the artery. Other less common causes include thoracic outlet syndrome and aortic dissection. Occlusive arterial disease can occur at any part of the body but mostly impacts the arteries of the thighs, knees, and calves. Aneurysmal Arterial Disease Aneurysmal arterial disease is a circulation disorder where the arteries get progressively enlarged. It can occur in any blood vessel, but mostly develops in the aorta, and is known as an aortic aneurysm. Causes of this disorder include atherosclerosis, hypertension, congenital defects, and aging. Symptoms of aortic aneurysm are piercing pain in the chest, abdomen, and middle of the back, shortness of breath, hoarseness, cough, swallowing issues, unconsciousness, stroke, shock, and heart attack. Aortic Dissection Aortic dissection occurs when the layers within the walls of the aorta get separated. In this case, the inner layer of the aorta tears off, and if the blood vessel ruptures through the outside layer of the Achieve Page 60

Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online