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Diseases of the Circulatory System

The circulatory system, also called the cardiovascular system, consists of the heart and blood vessels (veins, arteries and capillaries). Its primary purpose is the transportation of blood, gases and waste (mostly nitrogenous wastes from cellular metabolism) either to or from the tissues and organs. The diseases that affect the circulatory system reduce the overall ability of the system to function by physically damaging the heart and vessels or obstructing the flow of blood.

  1. Atherosclerosis

    • Atherosclerosis is one of the most common types of coronary artery diseases. Atherosclerosis is characterized by the accumulation of deposits in the arteries. These accumulations, which are called plaques, typically consist of fats, but may also include cholesterol and calcium. The plaques obstruct blood flow to heart, which forces the heart muscle to work harder to transport blood. The condition also causes the hardening of the vessels. In some cases, the plaques will burst and cause a clot, which can cut off the flow of blood entirely.

    Heart Attack

    • A heart attack (also called myocardial infarction) occurs when the flow of blood to the heart is completely cut off. Bursting plaques caused by atherosclerosis is a common cause. The lack of blood and oxygen reaching the heart begins to damage the cardiac muscle. If the blockage lasts long enough, the muscle begins to die. The damage from the muscle death results in scar tissue in the heart that inhibits it from working to its full capacity.

    Hypertension

    • Hypertension, more commonly referred to as high blood pressure, is a condition in which the resistance causes by blood flowing through the blood vessels creates too much pressure. Blood pressure is denoted by two numbers, the systolic pressure (heart pumping) and diastolic pressure (heart at rest). Normal or healthy pressure is 120 (systolic)/80 (diastolic). A reading of 140/90 and up is considered hypertensive. The vast majority of cases have no specific cause.

    Heart Failure

    • Heart failure or congestive heart failure is characterized by a weakening or stiffening of the heart muscle that leaves it unable to move a sufficient amount of blood. It is caused by diseases that force the heart muscle to work harder to move blood, such as atherosclerosis and hypertension. Symptoms include fluid build-up (edema), fatigue and shortness of breath.

    Stroke

    • A stroke occurs when the flow of blood and oxygen to the brain is stopped. This can be caused by two types of stroke. In an ischemic stroke, an artery supplying blood to the brain is blocked off by a clot. In a hemorrhagic stroke, the vessel ruptures, which leads to bleeding into the brain or around it. In both cases there will be damage to the brain tissue that can have long-term effects on both motor control and personality.

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