Various Causes of Narrowing Of The Vessels

Narrowing of the arteries is often associated with heart disease and heart attacks. In fact, narrowing of blood vessels can also affect various other organs of the body, not just the heart. Blood vessels are tubular-like organs found throughout the body, from the toe to the tip of the head. The main function of blood vessels is to regulate blood pressure and drain blood throughout the body. Naturally, blood vessels can narrow (constriction) or dilate (dilation) due to the effect of muscle activity on the walls.

Causes of narrowing of the veins

Narrowing of blood vessels can occur naturally to regulate blood supply and blood pressure in certain body parts. Blood vessels can also be narrowed when you are in a cold place or have temperatures lower than body temperature. When there is a narrowing of blood vessels, the blood supply becomes slower, but the pressure becomes greater. Besides occurring naturally, narrowing of the arteries can also be caused by external factors, including:

• Certain diseases

One of the diseases that cause blood vessel constriction is reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome (RCVS). This condition occurs when the muscles that affect the activity of blood vessels in the brain are disrupted. This condition is generally characterized by headaches that come suddenly. Hypothermia can also cause blood vessels to narrow. When you are cold, your body will shiver to stimulate muscle activity and generate body heat. To keep your body temperature warm, the blood vessels will constrict.

• Effects of drugs

Blood vessels can also be narrowed due to the influence of certain drugs, such as antidepressant drugs, anti-Parkinson's drugs, decongestant drugs, immunosuppressant drugs, drugs to reduce bleeding after childbirth, or migraine drugs. Illegal drugs, such as marijuana, cocaine, and ecstasy, can also cause blood vessel constriction.

• Psychological condition

If you experience stress or other psychological problems, the circulatory system in the body becomes abnormal, blood vessels can also experience a sudden constriction. As a result, this condition causes irregular heart rhythm.

Narrowing of the Vascular and Heart Attack

Narrowing of the arteries is often considered one of the causes of heart attacks. But the narrowing of blood vessels in this case is not due to the muscular activity of the narrowed blood vessels (vasoconstriction), but because of the buildup of plaque, fat, and cholesterol in the blood vessels (atherosclerosis). This condition is more accurately referred to as a blockage of blood vessels, not narrowing. When vasoconstriction occurs, there will also be changes in the size of the blood vessels. Whereas in heart attacks, generally although the size of blood vessels remains normal, blood flow is blocked by cholesterol plaque which causes blood supply to the heart to decrease. If it happens continuously, this condition will cause a heart attack, which is usually characterized by complaints of shortness of breath and chest pain (angina pectoris). After knowing the differences in blood vessel constriction and blood vessel blockage, you are expected to be able to better understand and realize when to go to a doctor so that your complaints can be resolved quickly. The doctor will diagnose your condition before giving the right treatment.