How does vasodilation cool you down

Hypotension may cause no problems for some people, but for others it can lead to symptoms such as dizziness, fainting, and nausea. Extreme levels of hypotension can be life threatening. A number of conditions can cause hypotension, including severe allergic reactions anaphylaxis , blood loss, dehydration, and severe infection.

Certain medications, particularly those used to treat high blood pressure can also lead to hypotension. A variety of environmental and personal factors can also have an impact on vasodilation, including:. It helps to direct a higher flow of blood toward your skin in order to keep your core body temperature at a normal level. Your body initially responds to this lack of oxygen through vasodilation, allowing more blood flow to your tissues.

However, this is then followed by vasoconstriction. The accompanying vasoconstriction can lead to an increase in blood pressure as well as buildup of fluid in tissues such as the lungs. This condition is called high-altitude pulmonary edema and can be life-threatening.

The condition may be treated with vasodilator drugs or supplemental oxygen. Increasing age is associated with a decrease in function of blood vessels, including vasodilation. This can contribute to the risk of cardiovascular events such as heart disease and stroke. In an obese individual, blood vessels are more resistant to vasodilation, which can lead to cardiovascular issues.

Weight loss can help to alleviate the dysfunction in vasodilation. Vasodilator drugs are medications that can cause vasodilation. Many can act directly on the smooth muscle found in the walls of blood vessels. Others can act on the part of the nervous system that regulates vasodilation and vasoconstriction. Because vasodilation lowers blood pressure, doctors often prescribe vasodilators for conditions such as high blood pressure or heart failure. Some vasodilators are strong medications and can cause side effects such as fast heartbeat, fluid retention, and flushing.

It helps treat erectile dysfunction by affecting the biological pathways that lead to vasodilation of the smooth muscle. This leads to an increase in blood flow to the penis. A secondary use for Viagra is treating some forms of high blood pressure. Anatomy of the skin: The skin is the largest organ of the integumentary system, made up of multiple layers of ectodermal tissue, and guards the underlying muscles, bones, ligaments, and internal organs. On the other hand, if the body needs to prevent the loss of excess heat, such as on a cool day, it will end up constricting the blood vessels of our skin.

This process is known as vasoconstriction. Since the blood vessels are narrower than they were before, less blood flows through the skin and thus less heat can escape into the environment via radiation, convection, and conduction. The body will also limit or stop the process of sweating to minimize any evaporative heat loss. In addition, our body thermoregulates using our hair.

The arrector pili muscles contract piloerection and lift the hair follicles upright. This makes the hairs stand on end, which acts as an insulating layer, trapping heat. While this hair-based method of thermoregulation is effective in many mammals and birds owing to their large and thick amounts of fur and feathers respectively , the relative effectiveness of this method of thermoregulation in humans is in question since we have little to no body hair in comparison.

Finally, while technically not a thermoregulatory mechanism, the fat associated with our skin does help insulate our body and therefore increases body temperature as a result. Key Takeaways. The skin regulates body temperature with its blood supply. The skin assists in homeostasis. For example, doctors sometimes induce vasodilation as a treatment for high blood pressure and related cardiovascular conditions.

However, vasodilation can also contribute to certain health conditions, such as low blood pressure and several chronic inflammatory conditions. Keep reading for more information on the effects of vasodilation on the body. This article also outlines the conditions that may cause vasodilation and the conditions in which vasodilation might function as a treatment.

Vasodilation refers to the widening of the arteries and large blood vessels. It is a natural process that occurs in response to low oxygen levels or increases in body temperature. It increases blood flow and oxygen delivery to areas of the body that require it most. A doctor may sometimes induce vasodilation as a treatment for high blood pressure , also known as hypertension , and its related conditions.

Examples of such conditions include:. A doctor may also induce vasodilation to improve the effects of a drug or radiation therapy. Vasodilation seems to be beneficial for this purpose because it increases the delivery of drugs or oxygen to the tissues that these treatments are designed to target. Vasoconstriction is the opposite of vasodilation. Vasoconstriction refers to the narrowing of the arteries and blood vessels. During vasoconstriction, the heart needs to pump harder to get blood through the constricted veins and arteries.

This can lead to higher blood pressure. The widening of blood vessels during vasodilation promotes blood flow. This has the effect of reducing blood pressure within the walls of the blood vessels.

Some people experience abnormally low blood pressure, or hypotension. In some cases, this may lead to symptoms including:. Vasodilation also plays an important role in inflammation. Inflammation is a process that helps defend the body against harmful pathogens and repair damage caused by injury or disease.

Vasodilation assists inflammation by increasing blood flow to damaged cells and body tissues. This enables more effective delivery of the immune cells necessary for defense and repair. However, chronic inflammation can cause damage to healthy cells and tissues. Lick the back of one of your hands and blow on it. Now just blow on the other without licking it first. Why did the wet surface feel colder? When liquids evaporate from surfaces they cool them. If the body is too hot, glands under the skin secrete sweat onto the surface of the skin, to increase heat loss by evaporation.

Sweat secretion stops when body temperature returns to normal. Shivering is the involuntary contraction and relaxation of muscles.