Introduction
Vasculitis is regarded as a common, auto-immune disorder that is marked by inflammation of the blood vessels, namely arteries, veins, and capillaries. The vascular system of the human body is structurally complex. One must know about how the blood is pumped from the heart and reaches every corner of the body via hair-like thin blood vessels.
How Does the Vascular System Work?
The human blood consists of:
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55 percent of blood plasma.
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45 percent blood components: Red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.
The human body is nothing short of a machine. Various systems work in collaboration with each other to allow efficient body functions and movement. The different organ systems are highly dependent on each other, and one can not take any organ system for granted. Blood is the fuel that drives this machine. The primary function of blood involves the transfer of oxygen and nutrients to every corner of the body and the removal of carbon dioxide and waste materials outside the body through the excretory and respiratory systems. This transfer of blood is carried out by a circuit system built up of channels. These channels are what we call the blood vessels. Blood always flows inside these channels, and hence, one can also call this a closed-loop circuit. This circulation of blood is carried out throughout one’s life. Blood circulation starts and ends at the heart. The heart, along with all the other blood vessels, comprises the circulatory system of the body.
The three main types of blood vessels include:
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Arteries: These vessels are responsible for carrying the blood away from the heart. The arteries make sure the blood has reached all parts of the body after being pumped from the heart. The aorta is the largest artery in the human body that serves as the first exit point for blood from the heart.
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Veins: These blood vessels function to bring all the deoxygenated blood from all parts of the body back to the heart. The blood is brought back to the heart by two superior venous branches, namely the superior and the inferior vena cava.
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Capillaries: These are the smallest and most numerous vessels present in the body. The capillaries connect the arteries and veins and facilitate the transfer of gasses and essential nutrients between the blood and the target tissue cells.
The heart pumps oxygenated blood that exits through the aorta, which subdivides into various branches. The large arteries are progressively divided into smaller arterioles that end in capillaries. The capillaries allow for an exchange of nutrients and connect these arterioles to venules that collectively form larger veins that are responsible for bringing the deoxygenated blood from all parts of the body back to the heart. This venous blood is pumped from the heart to the lungs via the pulmonary artery. The pulmonary vein brings the freshly oxygenated blood from the lungs back to the heart for it to pump to all parts of the body through the aorta. This cycle repeats itself with an average heart rate of 60 to 100 beats per minute.
What Is Vasculitis?
Vasculitis simply means inflammation of the vasculature. It involves the swelling of the blood vessels that leads to a reduction in the size of the blood flow pathway, constricting the lumen of the blood vessel. These narrow blood vessels restrict the flow of blood passing through it, thereby decreasing the overall blood flow. Vasculitis can be categorized into many types depending on the type of blood vessel it primarily affects. Some examples are:
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Central nervous system vasculitis mainly affects the arteries and veins of the CNS, that is, the brain, the spinal cord, and their surrounding structures.
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Giant Cell Arteritis usually involves the temporal artery that provides blood to the head and the eyes. The aorta and its main branches are generally involved in this type of vasculitis. The blood flow to the optic vessels may be restricted, resulting in vision loss.
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Kawasaki Disease is a rare type of vasculitis that usually affects the blood vessels throughout the body. The coronary arteries of the heart are the most involved.
These are just a few of the many types of vasculitis that may occur in the body.
What Causes Vasculitis?
Autoimmunity is held accountable for the incidence of vasculitis. The body’s immune system is not well equipped to identify a foreign or familiar environment and thus attacks one’s healthy living cells. The cause of such an immune response is not yet clarified. Genetic history, certain environmental factors, or immunological factors are said to contribute to this disease.
What Are the Symptoms Of Vasculitis?
The common symptoms of vasculitis include :
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Body aches and pains.
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Fatigue.
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Appetite loss.
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Significant weight loss.
The severity of symptoms may vary from one individual to another depending on the stage of vasculitis, the type of vasculitis, and the organ or organ systems affected by vasculitis.
What Is the Treatment Of Vasculitis?
The treatment of vasculitis involves providing symptomatic relief to the patient. There is no definite cure for vasculitis. However, the doctor may prescribe certain medications or therapies that can promote periods of remission during which there are no symptoms of vasculitis are observed.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), corticosteroids, and immunosuppressive agents are some of the preferred choices of drugs prescribed by the health care provider. Surgery may be required in severe cases that involve obstruction of the blood flow in a certain region.
Can Diet And Lifestyle Changes Improve Vasculitis?
Vasculitis is an incurable disease. However, its management is very well possible with the use of appropriate treatment. The drugs utilized for the same may present some inevitable side effects. Taking immunosuppressive drugs can increase the risk of infections in one. Similarly, administering corticosteroids results in the thinning of bones. Therefore, certain dietary supplements like Vitamin D or Calcium are advised to maintain optimum bone health.
Regular exercise has immense benefits like improved mood, blood flow, cardiovascular health, strength, and muscle mass. The impaired blood flow owing to vasculitis can be compensated for by living an active life with mild to moderate movement practiced daily.
Other mandatory lifestyle changes include quitting smoking and alcohol. Smoking tobacco has been proven to worsen the symptoms of vasculitis and increase the risk of infection. Having a healthy lifestyle and a well-organized sleep routine are essential for optimum bodily functions to be carried out.
Conclusion
Improving the blood flow in all regions of the body is the primary goal of the healthcare provider. Medications and verbal counseling both need to be administered from time to time to keep the patient’s physical and mental well-being in check. Living with vasculitis may seem overwhelming at first, but with proper guidance and a supportive environment, it is possible to live a life as close to normalcy. Timely diagnosis and accurate treatment, complemented by a healthy diet and an active lifestyle, are the keys to winning this atypical disease.
