Have you ever noticed that your face turns red after a good workout or after being in the sun? Or have you ever noticed that your eyes suddenly turn red? One reason for this is a condition called 'Hyperemia'. Don't be scared by the name, this is a normal process that happens in our bodies most of the time. Let's talk about it in simple terms today.
What is this hyperemia?
Simply put, hyperemia is the flow of more blood than normal to a part or organ of our body.
Think of a nozzle on a water pipe. We can adjust the speed of the water flow as we want, right? In the same way, the tiny blood vessels in our bodies, especially the arterioles, can supply the right amount of blood to our tissues.
Sometimes our cells and tissues need more blood than usual. For example, when we exercise. At such times, it is very good for the body to send more blood to meet that increased need. However, sometimes, this extra blood flow can be a symptom of a problem or disease in the body. Therefore, this provides an important clue for doctors to diagnose a disease.
What are the main types of hyperemia?
Hyperemia can be divided into several main types depending on how it occurs. You will easily understand this by looking at this table.
| Hyperemia Type | Simply explained |
|---|---|
| Active Hyperemia | During times like exercise, more blood flows to the working muscles because they need more oxygen. |
| Reactive Hyperemia | Blood flow to the area is restricted due to some reason (e.g., holding the hand tightly), and once the restriction is removed, blood flows rapidly to that area. |
| Functional Hyperemia | When the neurons in our brain are active, more blood flows to provide them with the energy they need. |
| Conjunctival Hyperemia | Inflammation or infection in the eye causes excess blood to flow into the white of the eye, causing the eye to turn red. |
How do we feel about hyperemia?
In fact, most of the time we don't even notice this happening in our bodies. This is a normal process that provides our muscles and brain with the oxygen they need. But sometimes we can feel things like this:
- Skin feels hot: When blood rushes to the skin, the area feels hot. Like your face getting red and hot after being in the sun.
- Numbness: When you squeeze your hand tightly and then suddenly release it, you feel a slight tingling sensation as the blood rushes through it, right? That's what it feels like.
- Redness of the eyes: When there is too much blood in the eye, the white part of the eye appears red.
Chemicals like nitric oxide and prostaglandins released by our bodies are what widen blood vessels in this way and allow more blood to flow.
What are the common causes of hyperemia?
There can be many reasons for hyperemia.
- Exercise: Muscles need more oxygen.
- Inflammation: To bring immune cells to the site of injury or infection.
- Digestion: After we eat, more blood flows to the digestive system.
- Heat: Blood flow to the surface of the skin to control body temperature.
- Menopause: Women experience hot flashes, which are caused by hormonal changes that occur with menopause.
- Eye problems: Redness of the eyes due to conditions such as allergies, infections, and glaucoma.
- Blockage of a blood vessel: Rapid blood flow to the area after the blockage is removed.
How is hyperemia treated?
This is very important. Not all cases of hyperemia require treatment.
Hyperemia that occurs during exercise and brain activity does not require treatment. It is a healthy process in the body. However, hyperemia caused by other causes requires treatment of the underlying cause.
For 'Hot Flashes' caused by menopause
If you're having trouble with your daily activities due to frequent hot flashes that accompany menopause, talk to your doctor. They may recommend hormone therapy, antidepressants, or medications like gabapentin.
For red eyes (Conjunctival Hyperemia)
The most important thing is to find the cause of the red eye and treat it. Here are some conditions that can cause red eyes:
- Allergies
- Bacterial or viral infections
- Glaucoma
- Keratitis - inflammation of the cornea of the eye
- Uveitis - inflammation of the middle layer of the eye
- Scleritis - inflammation of the white of the eye
In situations like this, it is very important to protect your eyesight by definitely seeing a doctor and getting the right treatment, rather than trying to treat yourself.
What are the risks if left untreated?
Hyperemia (redness of the eyes) caused by eye diseases such as glaucoma, uveitis , and keratitis can lead to vision loss and even permanent vision loss if not treated promptly. Therefore, if you have red eyes, especially if they are accompanied by eye pain, sensitivity to light, or blurred vision, never ignore it.
When should you see a doctor?
If you experience frequent hot flashes and they are interfering with your life, talk to your doctor.
If you have a red tinge to the whites of your eyes, don't worry about it and get an eye exam by a doctor. That way, you can know for sure whether it's a medical condition that needs treatment or just something normal.
Take-Home Message
- Hyperemia is the flow of more blood to a part of the body than normal. This is completely normal during times like exercise.
- If you have symptoms like frequent hot flashes or red eyes, it could be a sign of a medical condition. Therefore, it is important to seek medical advice.
- If you have red eyes, especially if they are accompanied by other symptoms such as pain or blurred vision, never ignore them. See your doctor as soon as possible.
- Use any medication prescribed by a doctor, especially eye drops, exactly as directed, for the duration of time. It is also very important to always wash your hands thoroughly before applying eye medication.
👩🏽⚕️ Additional questions (FAQs)
💬 What is hyperemia / redness of the skin and eyes?
This is not a disease, this is a defense mechanism in our body! 'Hyperemia' is a condition where blood suddenly fills/flows to any part of the body (such as the skin, eyes, intestines) in an abnormal/rapid manner, causing that area to burn like fire and turn 'dark red' (Excessive blood buildup/Redness).
💬 What are the main causes of this abnormal redness (Hyperemia) in the body?
This is divided into two parts. 1) Active Hyperemia: This is a good thing. When you are playing in the gym, a lot of blood comes in because your muscles need oxygen (Exercise), or when you suddenly get embarrassed/angry and your face turns red (Blushing). 2) Passive Hyperemia (Congestion): This is deadly! This happens when the heart is weak, like in 'Heart Failure', and the blood does not move forward and fills up in the lungs, liver, or legs, causing them to become red/swollen.
💬 How do you know if a red spot on your body (Hyperemia) is normal or a sign of a serious illness?
If you experience redness when you play/have a strong feeling and it goes away in a few minutes, that's normal. However, if 1) a leg/arm suddenly becomes red and painful with burning (Warm, red, swollen leg / DVT), it's a blood clot! 2) both eyes become red and blurred and the vision hurts like it's going to explode (Glaucoma), 3) when you press on the red area, it turns white and then red again (Capillary refill) after a long time/if it turns blue, you need to go to the hospital immediately!
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