Vasodilation is the process that occurs when some blood vessels in our body widen -dilate- allowing more blood to pass through them to certain organs and tissues..
It is a physiological process that occurs naturally, which allows to deliver more blood when and where it is needed, as well as to lower blood pressure. It can also occur as a result of some health problems or the use of certain drugs and drugs..
Vasodilation takes place at the level of the circulatory system, which is the organ system of the human body that is responsible for moving blood to and from all other organs and body tissues through a complex network of internal pipes -the blood vessels- and powered by a very special muscle pump: the heart.
There are several types of blood vessels in our body. On the one hand are the arteries, that are directly connected to the heart and its ventricles, so its function is to "draw" blood from this organ. When the arteries branch out, they form smaller vessels called arterioles.
Then we have at veins, whose job is to transport blood from the tissues to the heart, that is, they deal with the return blood; the smallest branches of the veins are called venules.
Finally, the capillaries They are the smallest blood vessels of all, but they are also extremely important, since all the exchange of gases, fluids, nutrients and wastes that has to do with the circulatory system occurs through these numerous and tiny channels.
These channels or pipes through which blood circulates inside our body are formed by walls of smooth muscles, which means that they are not rigid, but have the ability to contract (vasoconstriction) or relax (vasodilation).
This capacity for relaxation and contraction allows them to decrease or increase the amount of blood that passes through them thanks to a decrease or enlargement of its diameter..
Vasodilation and vasoconstriction are regulated intrinsically by mechanisms of the circulatory system, or extrinsically, through the nervous system and the endocrine system (by hormonal action).
Vasodilation is the process related to the dilation or widening of blood vessels (especially arteries and main veins) as a result of the relaxation of the smooth muscles that form their walls..
Consequently, this phenomenon allows a greater amount of blood to be transported through the interior of said vessels to a particular region of the body, that is, to increase blood flow and decrease blood pressure..
The phenomenon occurs naturally when the amount of oxygen is low or when the body temperature increases, but among its main causes we can also highlight:
When we exercise, the muscles that are associated with our skeleton demand greater amounts of oxygen and nutrients, which means that greater amounts of blood must be delivered to them in a given period of time.
It is one of the processes by which our body prepares to repair some damage. Occurs, among other things, as a consequence of vasodilation.
When a part of our body becomes inflamed, it turns red and feels hotter than the rest of the body, which is due to vasodilation, which causes an increase in the amount of blood that is delivered to that area, favoring repair. of damaged tissues
When someone consumes alcohol, the sensation of facial redness and an increase in their internal temperature is due to the vasodilation that it induces.
The same is true for chemicals like nitric oxide, carbon dioxide, and hormones like prostaglandins, histamine, and the neurotransmitter acetylcholine..
These drugs are commonly used to promote vasodilation. These drugs are usually given by doctors to lower blood pressure in patients with hypertension or other similar heart conditions.
Allergic reactions have to do with the immune system's reaction to a foreign substance and vasodilation is mainly caused by the effects of histamine, which is induced in these cases by the immune system.
Such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and inflammatory bowel disease can present some problems related to the function of the blood vessels, including vasodilation or defects in this
Other things that affect or induce vasodilation include temperature, altitude, age, and weight..
When we are in places with high temperatures, for example in a park in midsummer, this causes a greater flow of blood to the skin, a product of vasodilation, to regulate body temperature.
Altitude is also important, because at higher altitudes, less oxygen is available to breathe, so greater amounts of blood must be delivered to the organs so that their cells receive the amount of oxygen necessary for their normal functions; that's where vasodilation is involved.
With age, blood vessel function often declines, including vasodilation. This is also true for overweight people, where blood vessels are more "resistant" to vasodilation, which can lead to heart disease..
Since vasodilation has to do with increasing the amount of blood that is delivered to a particular region of the body, this process fulfills the primary function of increasing the amount of oxygen and nutrients that are delivered with the blood to areas of the body. that they need it most and when they need it most.
Likewise, vasodilation also works to lower blood pressure, preventing the heart from working too hard to pump blood to the different organs..
When vasodilation occurs during exercise, normally our body has compensatory mechanisms that cause vasoconstriction, that is, a decrease in the amount of blood that is delivered, in the visceral organs, for example..
For this reason we do not always perceive its effects, unless we make considerable efforts. However, since vasodilation has to do with a decrease in blood pressure, it can have some unpleasant effects for us, related to the hypotension:
There are two types of vasodilation:
Cutaneous vasodilation has to do with the dilation of the blood vessels that transport blood through our skin, which causes an increase in blood supply to this extensive tissue, favoring perspiration and internal thermal regulation..
Peripheral vasodilation, on the other hand, is the dilation of the blood vessels that supply our extremities, such as the arms and legs. This can also promote perspiration or sweating to regulate body temperature during exercise or can help fight infections quickly.
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