Human Circulatory Diseases

The human circulatory system is the means by which you receive oxygen, nutrients and other materials needed for normal cellular metabolism. Blood also plays a role in biological housekeeping since it carries cellular waste to the lungs and kidneys for elimination. Since these events involve the heart and blood vessels, the circulatory system is synonymous with the cardiovascular system. By learning more about common human circulatory diseases, you can protect your heart's health.

Atherosclerosis

• This disease is characterized by the formation of cholesterol deposits in the arteries, also known as arterial plaque. These deposits can interfere with the circulation of blood, meaning that cells may become deprived of oxygen needed to complete their life cycle, including being unable to eliminate waste materials.

  Small pieces of plaque can also break off and travel through the body in the bloodstream, where they can become lodged in a blood vessel. If this happens in the brain, a stroke may occur. Conventional treatment of this disease includes dietary and lifestyle modifications, regular exercise, medication and surgery, if necessary.

Hypertension

• Hypertension, more commonly known as high blood pressure, also increases the risk of stroke as well as heart attack. While it may sound like the elevated pressure refers to an increase in the amount of blood the heart pumps, it actually relates to the amount of resistance in blood circulation due to a constriction or narrowing of the arteries. Treatment for this type of circulatory disease includes dietary and lifestyle changes, as well as medications, namely diuretics, beta blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and calcium channel blockers.

Coronary Microvascular Disease

• Also referred to as simply small vessel disease, this condition exists when the small arteries of the heart malfunction. In contrast to atheriosclerosis, which affects the large arteries that pump blood through the heart, small vessel disease causes narrowing of smaller vessels to the point where they cannot expand to allow blood to pass through while you are physically active and requiring more oxygen. This event is known as endothelial dysfunction and may produce symptoms similar to a heart attack, such as chest pain. Treatment of this condition typically consists of ACE inhibitors to relax blood vessels and statins to lower cholesterol levels.

Peripheral Vascular Disease

• Peripheral vascular disease, or PVD, is one of the human circulatory diseases similar to atheriosclerosis that specifically affects peripheral arteries. In other words, PVD impacts the larger blood vessels in the body other than those of the heart and brain, such as the veins and arteries in the arms and legs. Treatments include statin drugs, anticoagulant medications, beta blockers and antiplatelet medications such as aspirin.