Hypertensive retinopathy is retinal vascular damage caused by hypertension. Signs usually develop late in the disease. Funduscopic examination shows arteriolar constriction, arteriovenous nicking, vascular wall changes, flame-shaped hemorrhages, cotton-wool spots, yellow hard exudates, and optic disk edema. Treatment is directed at controlling blood pressure and, when vision loss occurs, treating the retina.
The smallest bronchioles end in tiny air sacs, called alveoli. They inflate when a person inhales and deflate when a person exhales. During gas exchange oxygen moves from the lungs to the bloodstream.
