Kawasaki disease. Also known as mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome, Kawasaki disease affects the mucous membranes the lining of the mouth and breathing passages , the skin, and the lymph nodes part of the immune system. It can also lead to vasculitis, an inflammation of the blood vessels.
This can affect all major arteries in the body — including the coronary arteries. When coronary arteries become inflamed, a child can develop aneurysms, which are weakened and bulging spots on the walls of arteries. This increases the risk of a blood clot forming in this weakened area, which can block the artery, possibly leading to a heart attack. In addition to the coronary arteries, the heart muscle, lining, valves, or the outer membrane that surrounds the heart can become inflamed.
Arrhythmias or abnormal functioning of some heart valves can occur. Kawasaki disease has surpassed rheumatic fever as the leading cause of acquired heart disease in children in the United States.
Rheumatic heart disease. Usually the complication of an untreated strep throat infection, rheumatic fever can lead to permanent heart damage and even death. Most common in kids between 5 and 15 years of age, it begins when antibodies the body produces to fight the strep infection begin to attack other parts of the body.
They react to tissues in the heart valves as though they were the strep bacteria and cause the heart valves to thicken and scar. Inflammation and weakening of the heart muscle may also occur. Usually, when strep throat infections are promptly treated with antibiotics, this condition can be avoided. Strokes occur when the blood supply to the brain is cut off or when a blood vessel in the brain bursts and spills blood into an area of the brain, causing damage to brain cells.
Children or infants who have experienced stroke may be suddenly numb or weak, especially on one side of the body, and they may experience a sudden severe headache, nausea or vomiting, and difficulty seeing, speaking, walking, or moving. During childhood, strokes are rare.
Getting plenty of exercise, eating a nutritious diet, maintaining a healthy weight, and getting regular medical checkups are the best ways to help keep the heart healthy and avoid long-term problems like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and heart disease.
Note: All information on KidsHealth is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor. All rights reserved. Find a Doctor. About Us. Community Programs. California Kids Care.
International Services. Video Visits: Telemedicine. Locations Main Campus. Satellite Locations. Emergency Care. Urgent Care. Safe Sleep Practices. Pay Your Bill. Financial Assistance.
Medical Records. Signs of a stroke are weakness in the arm or leg, paralysis, blindness in one or both of the eyes, facial droop, and difficulty speaking. Patients with risk factors for Peripheral Artery Disease are also at risk for carotid disease. It is important that if you have risk factors for carotid disease that you see a medical professional. A simple diagnosis can be made by ultrasound testing and treatment can start.
If you have a severe plaque build-up, a vascular surgeon can treat this problem. This will be through surgery or the placement of a stent to help treat the blockage and prevent a stroke.
Venous diseases are a disease which damages valves in your veins. These diseases can prevent blood from flowing the correct way in your body. There are many venous diseases, but two of the most common are Chronic Venous Insufficiency and Varicose Veins. The veins then have a hard time returning blood back to the heart. One treatment for Chronic Venous Insufficiency is Sclerotherapy , which will close the veins.
This way the blood will return to the heart through veins that work well. This is a short, non-invasive procedure, you will be able to resume daily activities quickly. Varicose veins happen when there is damage to the valves within your veins. Swollen veins cause blood to flow less efficiently, which leads to poor circulation. Varicose veins can be treated with an Ambulatory Phlebectomy. This procedure takes about an hour, and the patient will be able to walk immediately after.
An aneurysm refers to a part of an artery or blood vessel that has become unsafely enlarged due to weakened vascular walls. The biggest threat of an aneurysm is its ability to rupture. This can be almost immediately fatal depending on where the aneurysm is. Even in less severe cases, they can lead to internal bleeding and a stroke. Sometimes they can be found accidentally. Smoking significantly increases your risk of developing aneurysm, especially abdominal aorta the major blood vessel that supplies your intestines and lower extremities.
If you are over the age of 65 and have ever smoked, a simple ultrasound can be done to assess for abdominal aneurysms. It is also common for aneurysms to be located in the brain, behind the knee, in the intestine, and in the spleen. If you are diagnosed with an aneurysm, a vascular surgeon can treat it and help prevent it from rupturing. Most aneurysms can be fixed without major surgery and most patients are able to return to normal daily life in just a few days. A blood clot can occur when any blood vessel in the body has a blockage.
The blood turns to a semisolid form from its typical liquid form. These are the main roles of the circulatory system. The heart, blood and blood vessels work together to service the cells of the body. Using the network of arteries, veins and capillaries, blood carries carbon dioxide to the lungs for exhalation and picks up oxygen. From the small intestine, the blood gathers food nutrients and delivers them to every cell. Blood Blood consists of: Red blood cells — to carry oxygen White blood cells — that make up part of the immune system Platelets — needed for clotting Plasma — blood cells, nutrients and wastes float in this liquid.
The heart The heart pumps blood around the body. It sits inside the chest, in front of the lungs and slightly to the left side. The heart is actually a double pump made up of four chambers, with the flow of blood going in one direction due to the presence of the heart valves. The contractions of the chambers make the sound of heartbeats.
The right side of the heart The right upper chamber atrium takes in deoxygenated blood that is loaded with carbon dioxide. The blood is squeezed down into the right lower chamber ventricle and taken by an artery to the lungs where the carbon dioxide is replaced with oxygen.
The left side of the heart The oxygenated blood travels back to the heart, this time entering the left upper chamber atrium. It is pumped into the left lower chamber ventricle and then into the aorta an artery. The blood starts its journey around the body once more. When blood pressure becomes too low, the cells become starved of the oxygen they need to function.
This is called circulatory failure. If circulatory failure goes on long enough, the organs may not work as well as they should. This can lead to a more serious condition called circulatory shock.
0コメント