Titre du document / Document title

To stand on one's own legs = Tenir sur ses jambes

Auteur(s) / Author(s)

MATHIAS Christopher J. ^{(1 2)} ;

Affiliation(s) du ou des auteurs / Author(s) Affiliation(s)

⁽¹⁾ Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College of Science, Technology & Medicine at St Mary's Hospital, London, ROYAUME-UNI
⁽²⁾ Autonomic Unit, National Hospital for Neurology & Neurosurgery, Queen Square Department of Clinical Neurology, Institute of Neurology, University College, London, ROYAUME-UNI

Résumé / Abstract

A fundamental human expectation is to stand upright. This exposes the cardiovascular system to gravitational forces, with a fall in pressure above heart level exposing organs such as the brain to impaired perfusion if adequate adaptive mechanisms are not activated. The autonomic nervous system plays an important role in the initial response to standing upright, and can be affected by several disorders, some rare, some common. Autonomic failure can result in orthostatic hypotension with hypoperfusion of vital organs, causing a variety of symptoms including syncope. Thus, it is important to recognise orthostatic hypotension, determine its aetiology, evaluate and treat it. Intermittent autonomic dysfunction (such as neurally mediated syncope without chronic neurogenic failure) also results in falls and syncope; various forms include the 'common faint' (vasovagal syncope) and carotid sinus hypersensitivity (especially in the elderly). Orthostatic intolerance without orthostatic hypotension is increasingly recognised as due to an autonomic disturbance. New techniques are helping to unravel the functional anatomy of cerebral autonomic centres and their pathways in the causation of orthostatic intolerance.

Revue / Journal Title

Clinical medicine   ISSN 1470-2118 

Source / Source

2002, vol. 2, n^o3, pp. 237-245 [9 page(s) (article)] (42 ref.)

Langue / Language

Anglais

Editeur / Publisher

Royal College of Physicians, London, ROYAUME-UNI  (2001) (Revue)

Mots-clés anglais / English Keywords

Hypotension ; Vein ; Syncope ; Pressure ; Blood circulation ; Medicine ;

Mots-clés français / French Keywords

Hypotension ; Veine ; Syncope ; Pression ; Circulation sanguine ; Médecine ;

Mots-clés espagnols / Spanish Keywords

Vena ; SÍncope ; Presiňn ; Circulaciňn sanguÍnea ; Medicina ;

Localisation / Location

INIST-CNRS, Cote INIST : 13339, 35400010903509.0120