Tabrielle Union has a rare condition that causes a blockage in her pulmonary art
ID: 203638 • Letter: T
Question
Tabrielle Union has a rare condition that causes a blockage in her pulmonary artery. Please explain to Tabrielle how blood flows through the heart (think the figure 8). Then explain why her specific blockage is causing an issue with her ability to get oxygen and why.Tabrielle Union has a rare condition that causes a blockage in her pulmonary artery. Please explain to Tabrielle how blood flows through the heart (think the figure 8). Then explain why her specific blockage is causing an issue with her ability to get oxygen and why.
Explanation / Answer
The situation could be explained to Tabrielle as following:
Deoxygenated blood from all over the body enters the right atrium of the heart through superior and inferior vena cava. From right atrium the deoxygenated blood is pumped into the right ventricle. From right ventricle, the blood is pumped to lungs via an artery called pulmonary artery. This deoxygenated blood which contains more carbon dioxide than oxygen needs to reach lungs to exchange the CO2 for oxygen that is being inhaled by the lungs. Once the CO2 is exchanged for O2, the blood becomes oxygenated with more oxygen content. This oxygenated blood has to reach the heart again to be pumped out to all over the body, where cells utilize this oxygen in metabolism. The oxygenated blood reaches the left atrium of the heart through pulmonary veins, then reaches the left ventricle and is pumped out of the heart through aorta.
Blockage in pulmonary artery is called pulmonary embolism. Since there is a blockage in your pulmonary artery that carries the deoxygenated blood to the lungs to be purified, the blood flow to your lungs has been reduced. Because of this condition, the efficiency and the exchange rate of CO2 and O2 by the lungs has been significantly decreased. Hence, enough oxygen is not being carried by your blood to meet the metabolic demands of your body. You may experience various symptoms, such as shortness of breath, chest pain and coughs. Immediate treatment should be commenced and after necessary test, a surgery may be recommended.
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