Answers to Question about the Chapter Nosebleeds [Epistaxis]

Nosebleeds 60% occurrence – ruptured blood vessels Most common cause: increased blood pressure Cure: waiting for blood to clot –Pinch nostrils together (Little’s Area)

Nosebleed Factors Blunt trauma Nose-picking Allergies Drugs (snorting/Aspirin) Alcohol Nasal Sprays Heart Problems Dry/Not Humid Air

Otic Barotrauma Damage to body tissues from difference in pressure Ex. An airplane landing Underwater in a deep pool Going from high pressure to low pressure  nosebleed!

Disorders of the Blood

Hemostasis Hemostasis – Stoppage of Blood Flow Three Stages: 1.Platelet Plug Formation (platelets activated) 2.Vascular Spasms (serotonin) – Blood vessels Decreases blood loss until clotting 3.Coagulation (clotting – platelets and fibrinogen) Can take 3-6 minutes

Not Enough Hemostasis!!! Hemophilia and Thrombocytopenia

Hemophilia When cut, your blood is unable to clot –Lacks platelets or fibrinogen Hereditary Only found in males Carrier females ONLY Popularly found in royal family members (England and Russia)

Queen Victoria’s Lineage

Thrombocytopenia Not enough circulating PLATELETS (blood clotting) Small purplish blotches on skin (spontaneous bleeding) Can be due to lack of Vitamin K (leafy greens) Negatively affect liver function (clotting factors)

Quick Quiz 1 of 2 What is the MAIN GOAL of hemostasis? How is hemophilia different from thrombocytopenia (hint: how do you get it?) What can you do to prevent getting thrombocytopenia in your diet?

When Clotting Goes Too Far… THROMBUS Persistent clotting in blood vessels Can lead to heart attack (pulmonary thrombus) Embolus = free-floating clot –Can cause heart attack or stroke! Common in immobilized patients (people in comas) –Slowly flowing blood

Heart Attacks and Tylenol Heart attack (Myocardial Infarction) – when blood supply to heart blocked off Tylenol = anti-coagulant Taking one/two pills can increase chances of surviving heart attack

Sickle Cell Anemia Anemia – Iron- deficiency due to lack of hemoglobin Sickle cells – moon- shaped RBCs Less surface area = less hemoglobin = less iron = anemia! Hereditary!

Sickle Cell and Malaria High prevalence in African Americans, why? Malaria – mosquito-borne infectious disease that attacks blood cells –Started thousands of years ago 90% deaths from Malaria = Sub-Saharan Africa Sickle cells = immune to malaria

Leukemia – “White Blood” Cancer of the bone marrow –Most common cancer in children Bone marrow = stem cells –Make RBCs, WBCs and platelets Stem cells produce immature, abnormal and nonfunctional WBCs in large amounts –Leaves body open to opportunistic infection Cure: Bone Marrow transplant (difficult)

Leukemia Post- WWII 1945 – Atomic Bomb in Hiroshima –Ending WWII in Japan Radiation  Cancer (Leukemia) Killed 140,000 Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes – Eleanor Coerr

Quick Quiz 2 of 2 What is the name of the free-floating clot resulting from a thrombus? Which cells are DIRECTLY AFFECTED by Leukemia (test question) If something is an anti-coagulant (Tylenol), what does that mean?

Artificial Blood Substitutes An Ethical Dilemma

Problems with Donating Human Blood Short lifespan (RBCs = 3-7 days) Antibodies  unwanted clotting between blood types –(Type A  Type B)

Solution?: Cow Blood Hemopure: Purified hemoglobin (oxygen carrier) No problems with antibodies BUT… It’s Bovine (Cow) – based! Mad Cow Disease!!