The autonomic nervous system acts independently from
our will and controls the functioning of different
organs within our body. It consists of a
parasympathetic and a sympathetic part. The latter
is activated in fight or flight situations and
causes an increase in blood pressure and heart rate
together with vasoconstriction of the peripheral
vessels. The sympathetic nervous system is
controlled by reflexes, which are triggered by baro-
and chemoreceptors. Dysfunction of the sympathetic
nervous system has been documented in a number of
cardiovascular disorders and has been largely
studied in relation to left heart failure, in which
case it is related to an abnormal functioning of the
chemo- and baroreceptors. This book gives insight
into sympathetic activation in the context of
different models of heart failure: isolated right
heart failure, represented by patients with
pulmonary arterial hypertension, and a model based
upon heart transplantation. The reader will find a
description of in vivo studies of the sympathetic
nervous system of these two patient populations as
well as a general description of the structure
and functioning of the sympathetic system.
our will and controls the functioning of different
organs within our body. It consists of a
parasympathetic and a sympathetic part. The latter
is activated in fight or flight situations and
causes an increase in blood pressure and heart rate
together with vasoconstriction of the peripheral
vessels. The sympathetic nervous system is
controlled by reflexes, which are triggered by baro-
and chemoreceptors. Dysfunction of the sympathetic
nervous system has been documented in a number of
cardiovascular disorders and has been largely
studied in relation to left heart failure, in which
case it is related to an abnormal functioning of the
chemo- and baroreceptors. This book gives insight
into sympathetic activation in the context of
different models of heart failure: isolated right
heart failure, represented by patients with
pulmonary arterial hypertension, and a model based
upon heart transplantation. The reader will find a
description of in vivo studies of the sympathetic
nervous system of these two patient populations as
well as a general description of the structure
and functioning of the sympathetic system.