Disorders of Circulatory System

Several disorders can affect the heart and blood vessels. The common ones are described below.

High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)

Hypertension means blood pressure that is higher than normal. Normal blood pressure is taken as 120/80, where 120 mm Hg (millimetres of mercury) is the systolic or pumping pressure and 80 mm Hg is the diastolic or resting pressure. If repeated checks show a reading of 140/90 or higher, the person is said to have hypertension. High blood pressure can lead to heart diseases and also damages vital organs such as the brain and the kidney.

Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)

Also known as atherosclerosis, this disease affects the vessels that supply blood to the heart muscle itself. It is caused by deposits of calcium, fat, cholesterol and fibrous tissues on the vessel walls, which make the lumen (inner space) of the arteries narrower and so reduce blood flow to the heart.

Angina

Also called angina pectoris, this is a symptom of acute chest pain that appears when not enough oxygen is reaching the heart muscle. It occurs due to conditions that affect blood flow. Angina can affect men and women of any age, but it is more common among the middle-aged and the elderly.

Heart Failure …