The role of the central nervous system in chronic congestive heart failure.
Even though congestive heart failure is extremely common, the mechanisms responsible for the clinical manifestations remain a puzzle. The central and autonomic (sympathetic) nervous systems are responsible for a large part of the clinical manifestations. The role of the nervous system in CHF is discussed briefly. It is evident that there are many gaps in knowledge that remain concerning the role of the central, peripheral, and autonomic nervous systems in congestive heart failure. The peripheral vascular constriction, increase in venous tone and pressure, tachycardia, sweating, dermal pallor, and tension and anxiety in patients with CHF reflect generalized sympathetic nervous system activity and the influence of the central and autonomic nervous systems on the clinical syndrome of CHF.
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000502:physiology; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology; D002302:Cardiac Output; D002319:Cardiovascular System / Q000294:innervation; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000098:blood supply; D009129:Muscle Tonus; D009200:Myocardial Contraction; D012018:Reflex; D014666:Vasomotor System / Q000503:physiopathology; D014680:Veins / Q000503:physiopathology
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones