Don't Think You're A Zombie If You Don't Have A Pulse

A person without a pulse is either dead or a zombie. But a rare disease can leave you without a pulse and a give you many problems. This is Takayasu’s arteritis – a disease characterized by the inflammation of the blood vessels.

As its name implies, pulseless disease or Takayasu's arteritis is marked by a diminished or absent pulse at the wrist. Other symptoms are fever, fatigue, night sweats and weight loss.

As the arteries narrow due to inflammation, the patient may experience headaches, visual disturbances, arm pain, high blood pressure, mild anemia and chest pain.

The exact cause of the disease is unknown although it has been linked to tuberculosis. It is common in Oriental women aged 18 to 40 but can affect anyone. Untreated, the disease is fatal because of heart disease, hypertension and other complications.

“Inflammation of a blood vessel, as occurs in Takayasu's arteritis, can cause layers of the blood vessel to thicken. This narrows the blood vessel, reducing the amount of blood - and thus, the oxygen and nutrients - that reaches your body's tissues. Reduced blood flow can lead to conditions such as high blood pressure, heart failure and other circulatory problems,” explained the Mayo Clinic.

“In some cases, a blood clot may form in an affected artery, obstructing blood flow and causing a stroke or heart attack. Sometimes instead of becoming narrower, a blood vessel may weaken and form a bulge (aneurysm). If the aneurysm bursts, it can be life-threatening,” it added.

Pulseless disease is known by many other names Ike aortic arch syndrome, branchiocephalic arteritis, papaortitis, obliterative aortic disease and aortitis syndrome.

Depending on your condition, treatment may involve the use of drugs or surgery. Organs that have not been damaged by the disease can be saved by corticosteroids or cytotoxic drugs to suppress inflammation.

“If your arteries become severely narrowed or blocked, surgery may be necessary to open or bypass these arteries to allow an uninterrupted flow of blood. Often, this helps to improve signs and symptoms, such as high blood pressure and chest pain. In some cases, though, narrowing or blockage may recur, requiring a second procedure,” said the Mayo Clinic.

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