The role of the circulatory system is great for the body to maintain its vital activities. The circulatory system provides nourishment to the cells by first carrying blood to the heart itself and then to all other tissues. In addition to transporting nutrients and oxygen through the blood, it also carries wastes such as ammonia and carbon dioxide to the excretory organs. When the heart, which is in the center of the circulatory system, stops working, it is of vital importance as damage will occur to many organs, including the brain, within minutes.
What are Circulatory System Diseases?
Circulatory system diseases, heart, are diseases seen in structures related to the circulatory system such as blood pressure, arteries, veins and capillaries. Since circulation affects the oxygen and nutrition of the cells in the whole body, the diseases seen in this system are vital diseases that affect the whole body. The thickening of the vessel wall is mostly caused by the fat unit, but in some cases it may also be caused by the deposition of hyaline or calcium. Atherosclerosis is a serious disease that can occur in any vessel in the body. When it occurs around vital organs such as the brain and heart, its treatment is important. In the absence of blood flow, the oxygen and nutrients carried by the blood will not be transported, so brain cells begin to die. Depending on the part of the brain that does not reach blood, the resulting stroke can be seen on one side or the whole body. Stroke is a condition that needs urgent intervention, because if not intervened, cell death will increase and temporary or permanent damage may occur. Stroke occurs due to vascular occlusion, clotting or rupture of the vessel.
Hypertension
Hypertension occurs when the pressure exerted by the blood carried in the body to the vessels is high. It affects blood pressure, the amount of blood pumped by the heart, and the narrowing of the arteries. The pressure measured when the heart contracts is the systolic pressure, and the pressure when the heart relaxes is the diastolic pressure. The normal value of systolic pressure, called systolic blood pressure, is 12, diastolic pressure is v. The normal value of diastolic pressure achieved is considered to be 8. In the case of hypertension, these values increase as the pressure increases. Consumption of too much salt in the diet, excess sodium and lack of potassium will increase the amount of fluid retained in the body, thus increasing the pressure, in other words blood pressure. It occurs as a result of a blockage or narrowing in the coronary artery that feeds the heart. Coronary artery disease can occur due to genetic reasons as well as nutritional habits or lifestyle.Heart Failure
Heart failure is the inability of the heart to function as a result of being damaged for various reasons. The most common cause is the inability to pump enough blood into the body as a result of damage to the heart muscle. Apart from heart muscle damage, heart valve disorder, hypertension and congenital heart diseases can also cause heart failure. In the case of heart failure, fatigue and shortness of breath are seen because enough blood and oxygen cannot be transported to the cells. If the damage to the heart muscle is caused by a heart-related condition, it is called primary cardiomyopathy, and if it is caused by damage to other organs other than the heart, it is called secondary cardiomyopathy. Cardiomyopathy causes the heart to fail to function as it should.Cardiac Rhythm Disorder
While the heart rate varies between 60 and 100 beats per minute under normal conditions, these values can be very low or high in cardiac rhythm disorders. Heart rhythm disorder, called arrhythmia, can be caused by many diseases, whether or not they are related to the heart. Tachycardia occurs when the heart rate is higher than it should be, and bradycardia occurs when it is too slow. The irregular rhythm in the heart causes the person to experience shortness of breath, dizziness and palpitations.Heart Valve Diseases
The heart valves located between the chambers of the heart open and close, allowing the blood flow to progress as it should. Heart valves may be congenitally narrow or may begin to lose their function later on. With the valve that moves when the heart contracts and relaxes When the r does not work as it should, it causes serious circulatory problems.Vasculitis (Vein Inflammation)
Vasculitis is a disease in which the vessels are damaged and thinned as a result of an infection in the vessels. This vascular infection can be caused by drug use, immune system diseases or any infection in the body.What are the Signs and Symptoms of Circulatory System Diseases?
Different signs and symptoms are seen depending on the type of circulatory system diseases. The most common symptoms include chest pain, shortness of breath, cough, numbness, pale skin, cold skin, palpitations, and edema. In some cases, bloody sputum called hemoptysis, syncope, that is, temporary loss of consciousness and fever can be seen. The most important distinguishing symptom is angina pectoris, chest pain caused by ischemia of the heart muscle. A doctor should be consulted when pain is felt in the chest and shortness of breath may be caused by serious heart conditions. Some of the circulatory system diseases and treatment methods can be listed as follows:
- Atherosclerosis: The treatment methods to be applied vary according to the degree of atherosclerosis. Priority is given to drug therapy, stenting is performed when drug therapy is not sufficient. When the degree of obstruction is large, vascular replacement may be required by surgical operation. If the stroke is caused by the narrowing of the vessel, the vessel is widened by angioplasty or stenting.
- Hypertension: There are different drug groups used to lower blood pressure in the treatment of hypertension. These groups are prescribed to the patient alone or in combination with each other. In addition, the person should not consume salty and fatty foods by paying attention to his diet.
- Coronary Artery Disease: In the treatment of coronary artery disease, blood thinners that prevent clot formation and cholesterol drugs are used to reduce vascular occlusion. drug therapy In cases where n is not sufficient, stenting or bypass is performed.
- Heart Failure: The treatment method to be applied is decided according to the cause and degree of heart failure. Treatment methods used in the treatment of heart failure; drug therapy, bypass, valve replacement, heart pump, pacemaker and heart transplantation.
- Cardiomyopathy: If the disease does not progress severely, drug therapy is applied in the treatment of cardiomyopathy. If the patient shows signs of heart failure, pacemaker application can be performed.
- Cardiac Rhythm Disorder: In case of arrhythmia, treatment with rhythm-regulating drugs is usually applied. In some cases, treatment with electrophysiological treatment called catheter ablation or surgical operation can be performed.
- Heart Valve Diseases: When the heart valves are damaged, since they do not function, valve repair or valve replacement is treated. While the tissues supporting the valve are placed in valve repair, biological and mechanical valves are placed in valve replacement. Afterwards, vasculitis is controlled with medication. In some cases, drug treatment is not enough and surgical vascular replacement may be required.
What should we pay attention to to protect the health of the circulatory system?
First of all, for a healthy circulatory system You need to eat healthy. It is recommended to stay away from salt, sugar and flour, which are referred to as the three whites. It is necessary to stay away from animal fats and solid fats, which are saturated fats, to avoid smoking and alcohol, and to consume foods with high vitamin and mineral value such as cereals, legumes, vegetables and fruits. Another important issue for cardiovascular health is adequate exercise. Increasing the condition by exercising at least 3-4 days a week contributes to the health of the circulatory system. In addition, paying attention to weight, giving importance to gum health, sleeping regularly and staying away from stress are beneficial for cardiovascular health. If you are worried about your circulatory system health, consult your doctor and take the necessary precautions.
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