How can the circulatory system go wrong

Aortic aneurysms affect the main artery in the body. While scientists do not know what causes all of these diseases, there are things that individuals can do to reduce the risk of developing them. Many circulatory system diseases are linked to each other. For example, high blood pressure damages the blood vessels, which can lead to other circulatory problems.

The narrowing of blood vessels caused by high cholesterol increases the likelihood of a person getting a blood clot. Being overweight or obese also increases the possibility of developing circulatory diseases. However, a healthful diet and being active can reduce the risk. Regular exercise keeps the heart healthy by reducing the risk of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and being overweight — all of which are risk factors for circulatory diseases.

People who have family members with a circulatory disease are more likely to develop one themselves. This risk, however, can be reduced with a healthful lifestyle.

Smoking is a significant risk factor for developing circulatory diseases. Toxic substances in tobacco can narrow and damage the blood vessels, increasing the risk of blood clots and causing poor circulation.

Some circulatory diseases, such as stroke, heart attacks, and burst aneurysms, are life-threatening and need emergency medical attention. Anyone who experiences heart pain is advised to make an appointment with their healthcare team. People who are concerned that they are at risk of developing a circulatory disease can ask their doctor how to make healthful lifestyle changes.

The outlook for circulatory system diseases depends on the underlying problem. Without immediate medical attention, stroke, heart attacks, and aneurysms can have devastating effects. Other diseases can be managed. For example, doctors typically treat angina pain with tablets that increase the blood flow to the heart. Eating a healthful diet, exercising regularly, and not smoking can ease many symptoms or reduce the risk of the conditions listed above. What is an abdominal aortic aneurysm? In this article, learn what it is, how screening for the condition works, and how doctors treat it.

What are the causes and risk factors of an ascending aortic aneurysm? What are the different types, how is it diagnosed and can it be prevented? What diseases affect the circulatory system? Medically reviewed by Alana Biggers, M. Read about pulmonary hypertension, high pressure inside the pulmonary arteries. Information on supraventricular tachycardia, a condition featuring episodes of an abnormally fast heart rate. Information on Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, most common in children born with a heart condition.

These tests include checking your pulse, blood tests, echocardiogram among others. Information on the types of medicine used to treat a heart condition, how they are taken and side effects.

Information on the surgical procedures used to treat a heart condition, these could include heart bypass and valve surgery among others. Including some of the resources and information you may find helpful, such as counselling and rehabilitation services. Information on reducing the risks associated with developing heart disease.

Useful resources, helplines and websites full of information to support you. Heart disease affects women as well as men. It's important to know the symptoms of heart disease to look for and when to get help. Home Illnesses and conditions Heart and blood vessels Heart and blood vessels Identifying, treating and managing cardiovascular conditions, disorders and emergencies.

This cycle repeats over and over again. The circulatory system is made up of blood vessels that carry blood away from and towards the heart. Arteries carry blood away from the heart and veins carry blood back to the heart.

The circulatory system carries oxygen, nutrients, and hormones to cells, and removes waste products, like carbon dioxide. These roadways travel in one direction only, to keep things going where they should.

Two valves also separate the ventricles from the large blood vessels that carry blood leaving the heart:. The heart gets messages from the body that tell it when to pump more or less blood depending on a person's needs. For example, when you're sleeping, it pumps just enough to provide for the lower amounts of oxygen needed by your body at rest. But when you're exercising, the heart pumps faster so that your muscles get more oxygen and can work harder.

How the heart beats is controlled by a system of electrical signals in the heart. The sinus or sinoatrial node is a small area of tissue in the wall of the right atrium. It sends out an electrical signal to start the contracting pumping of the heart muscle. This node is called the pacemaker of the heart because it sets the rate of the heartbeat and causes the rest of the heart to contract in its rhythm.

These electrical impulses make the atria contract first. Then the impulses travel down to the atrioventricular or AV node , which acts as a kind of relay station. From here, the electrical signal travels through the right and left ventricles, making them contract. Let the doctor know if you have any chest pain, trouble breathing, or dizzy or fainting spells; or if you feel like your heart sometimes goes really fast or skips a beat.

Reviewed by: Larissa Hirsch, MD. Larger text size Large text size Regular text size. What Does the Heart Do? What Does the Circulatory System Do? What Are the Parts of the Heart? The heart has four chambers — two on top and two on bottom: The two bottom chambers are the right ventricle and the left ventricle. These pump blood out of the heart.