Tag: pathophysiology
- How People Die: Obstructive Shock ()
Less Going In Means Less Going Out The pipe is under constant pressure, but what happens to the water when a big chunk of ice forms and blocks the pipe? The incoming flow will be obstructed, limited the amount of water the pipes will deliver. The same thing happens when an obstruction occurs in the […]
- How People Die: Asphyxia ()
Asphyxia or asphyxiation is a condition of deficient supply of oxygen to the body which arises from abnormal breathing. Asphyxia causes generalized hypoxia, which affects primarily the tissues and organs. There are many circumstances that can induce asphyxia, all of which are characterized by the inability of a person to acquire sufficient oxygen through breathing […]
- Diabetes ()
Diabetes is a chronic (long-lasting) health condition that affects how your body turns food into energy. Most of the food you eat is broken down into sugar (also called glucose) and released into your bloodstream. When your blood sugar goes up, it signals your pancreas to release insulin. Insulin acts like a key to let […]
- The Problem With Blood Clots ()
What are blood clots? Your body’s arteries and veins are a superhighway system designed to transport oxygen-rich blood from your heart to the rest of your body. They then carry oxygen-depleted blood back from your body to your heart. Normally, this system runs smoothly, but sometimes you can develop a bottleneck called a blood clot. […]
- How People Die: Suffocation ()
The most common reason people call 911 is for respiratory distress. In most jurisdictions, 40% of all calls are because the patient is experiencing shortness of breath. Shortness of breath can be caused by many conditions, however varied, the conditions always come down to three root causes: Problems with pulmonary ventilation Problems with oxygenation Problems […]
- Types of Shock ()
Hypovolemic Shock Hypovolemic shock, the most common type, is caused by insufficient circulating volume, typically from hemorrhage although severe vomiting and diarrhea are also potential causes. Hypovolemic shock is graded on a four-point scale depending on the severity of symptoms and level of blood loss. Typical symptoms include a rapid, weak pulse due to decreased […]
- Lower Blood Pressure Results in Oxygen Impairment (Time For PLAN B) ()
Lowered blood pressure delivers less oxygen to the body’s cells. When the cell experiences decreased oxygen levels in the blood, the cells resorts to plan B, anaerobic metabolism. All cells in the body have the ability to exist without oxygen. Ordinarily, oxygen is used in the cell primarily it is needed to convert glucose to […]
- The Mechanics of Maintaining Adequate Blood Pressure Even In Times of Peril ()
When the patient experiences a drop in blood pressure due decreased cardiac output the body unleashes a host of compensatory mechanisms. Human beings are constantly moving and changing positions. Increased workload of the body requires a circulatory system that is dynamic enough to maintain blood pressure in all situations. Usually, these countermeasures ensure consistent and […]
- Introduction to Pathophysiology ()
Pathophysiology is the study of the disordered physiological processes that cause, result from, or are otherwise associated with a disease or injury. Pathology is the medical discipline that describes conditions typically observed during a disease state, whereas physiology is the biological discipline that describes processes or mechanisms operating within an organism. Pathology describes the abnormal […]
- Effects of Inadequate Perfusion in Cells ()
When perfusion is inadequate, cells in the body’s various tissues are in jeopardy. Kill enough cells, tissue dies. Enough tissue dies, an organ dies. Enough organs die, the patient dies. Hypotension creates an environment where the cells are starved of glucose and oxygen which denies them the ability to produce ATP (adenosine triphosphate). Without the […]