Disorders of the Human Circulatory System

Blood, oxygen, and nutrients travel throughout the body by the circulatory system About 64 million people in the U.S. suffer from some form of circulatory disorder.

The Network

• The circulatory system consists of the heart and blood vessels. It supplies oxygen and blood to cells, organs and tissues while simultaneously eliminating waste and carbon dioxide from the body.

Type of Disorders

• Circulatory disorders are grouped as congenital or acquired. The former are problems present at birth and the latter group develops at any point after birth.

Heart Disorders

• Some circulatory disorders can be detected in utero.

  Congenital heart defects may be detected when the baby is in the mother's womb, or after birth. Doctors listen for any abnormal sounds and irregular heartbeats, such as a heart murmur.

  Cardiac arrhythmias, when the heart beats too fast or too slow, can occur at any age. They can be discovered during a physical exam.

Hypertension

• A photo of a sphygmomanometer used to check blood pressure.

  Common circulatory disorders include hypertension, or high blood pressure, when blood forcefully pushes against the walls of the arteries. Unchecked, it can lead to kidney failure, heart disease or other health problems.

Coronary Artery Disease

• Coronary Artery Disease is common in older adults. This occurs when fat, calcium and dead cells build up in the arteries and prevent blood from flowing properly.