The circulatory system consists of the heart, blood vessels and blood. It has a number of functions in the body, the most basic and fundamental of which is to circulate blood to the tissues and cells, thus providing nutrition and oxygen, while removing waste. Diseases of the circulatory, or cardiovascular, system impair the ability of the system to deliver blood adequately.
Significance
Common cardiovascular diseases can take many different forms and impact the cardiovascular system in different ways, but they share a common significance--they impair blood flow to the tissues. This can lead to a variety of negative effects. If cells can't get adequate oxygen, they will die. This is the case in disease processes that lead to clot formation in the vessels, causing subsequent heart attack or stroke; vessels blocked by clots fail to deliver oxygen, causing cell death in the heart or brain.
Features
While there are many kinds of cardiovascular disease, some of the most common ones have noteworthy features, and one can lead to another. Atherosclerosis is a disease whereby the arterial walls begin to harden, weakening them. They can crack and bleed, resulting in clot formation. If atherosclerotic plaques form inside vessels of the heart itself, the resulting disease is called coronary artery disease, and it increases risk of heart attack. Uncontrolled coronary artery disease impairs the ability of the heart to pump blood and can cause congestive heart failure.
Considerations
Many of the common circulatory diseases are the result of a combination of factors. Age is certainly one of these, but so is family history. Further, lifestyle choices make certain individuals more or less likely to experience cardiovascular disease. Regular exercise helps keep the heart strong, since exercise forces the heart to work harder--as it does every muscle--and keeps it functioning optimally. Inactivity, conversely, allows the heart to weaken and makes it more likely to become diseased.
Expert Insight
Cholesterol level is one major factor that influences common circulatory diseases, which is why physicians monitor cholesterol levels so closely. Explain Drs. Reginald Garrett and Charles Grisham in their book, "Biochemistry," dietary cholesterol can build up in the arteries, leading to formation of atherosclerotic plaques and many common cardiovascular diseases. While LDL, or "bad," cholesterol indicates that there is too much cholesterol in the bloodstream and represents a risk, HDL, or "good," cholesterol indicates that the body is ridding itself of excess cholesterol and is beneficial to heart health.
Prevention
To help patients avoid common circulatory diseases, the American Heart Association sets forth guidelines for healthy living. They recommend keeping weight and stress under control, since both of these factors can cause a heart to work harder than it should and can weaken it. They suggest eating a diet high in fiber, which appears to reduce blood cholesterol, and a diet low in saturated and trans fat, which increase blood cholesterol. Finally, they recommend being physically active to help keep the heart functioning optimally.
References
- "Anatomy and Physiology"; Gary Thibodeau, Ph.D.; 2007
- American Heart Association: Atherosclerosis
- "Biochemistry"; Reginald Garrett, Ph.D. and Charles Grisham, Ph.D.; 2007
- American Heart Association: Healthy Living
