Diseases and Issues of the Circulatory System

This page contains diseases of the circulatory system, what they do to you, and issues/current events of the circulatory system today.  

Diseases, Risk Factors, Prevention, Awareness, and Treatment

Diseases and Infections

• Heart attack
• Blood clots
• Cardiovascular
• Stroke
• Diabetes
• Hypertension
• Coronary heart disease
• Artery Buildup/Plaque

As you can see by the above picture, the death rates of people with Heart Disease are very high, and Texas is one of the worst. We need to raise awareness on this topic, because many people aren't even aware of their risk.

Risk Factors (Factors that contribute to diseases like coronary heart disease)

• Age
• Gender, men under age 64 are much more prone to disease
• Smoking tobacco (and smoking anything else is bad for you as well!)
• High blood pressure
• Obesity
• Depression
• Stress
• Little exercise
• Insulin resistance

  Prevention (Ways that you can lower the risk of having heart problems)

• Have a diet composing of low cholesterol foods, and low fat (the fat builds up a 'plaque' on the arteries)
• A healthy diet and exercise can lower cholesterol, try to keep it below 150, because it is very rare for a person with cholesterol below 150 to acquire a type of heart disease
• Eating oily fish (or taking fish oil pills) may help reduce the risk of sudden death and arrhythmia
• Olive oil can have benefits
• Moderate alcohol intake

Follow these guidelines and you are much more likely to lead a heart-problem free life!

Awareness

• Though cardiovascular disease is the #1 cause of death among individuals in modern society, many young people are unaware or unconcerned about the high risk of the disease
• The process of atherosclerosis evolves over decades, and begins as early as childhood. It can stay 'silent' until many years later in life, or when an event such as a heart attack occurs
• Most adolescents are more concerned about other risks such as HIV, accidents, and cancer than cardiovascular disease
• 1 in 3 people will die from complications associated with atherosclerosis

  Treatment

• Depending on the disease, treatment can vary
• Part of the healing process always contains some of the healthy life aspects mentioned above
• Aspirin, blood pressure medications, and cholesterol lowering drugs can also be helpful
• In some cases, surgery may be required to reopen, repair, or replace damaged blood vessels

  Current Issues

  Below is a list of current circulatory issues and a summary of each

  
  

  Heart Disease Related

  Depression Can Lead to Early Heart Disease
  If you are depressed, you can be more prone to early heart disease. Stress is bad for your heart and when you are depressed, chemicals are released into your blood stream, and they can be bad for your heart's health.
  Good Cholesterol
  Have you ever seen a commercial for dieting, advertising that they can lower your bad cholesterol and up your good? What exactly makes a certain type of cholesterol good? This article explains the proteins that this cholesterol contains, and how it differentiates from the bad cholesterol that clogs your arteries.
  

  Stress Related

  Factors That Contribute to Early Death
  907 patients with coronary heart disease were tested. 327 of these patients also had type 2 diabetes. After 4 years, 135 of the patients had died. Depending on risk factors (listed above) depression and diabetes was associated with early death.
  

  Blood Related

  Low Platelet Numbers Caused By Commonly Used Drug
  When a person receives an infection called staphylococci (more commonly known as staph), an antibiotic called vancomycin is applied. However, it has been discovered that vancomycin can cause a severe drop in platelet production. Platelets, which clot blood, are very important and this can be fatal when combined with uncontrollable bleeding.
  

  Recent Breakthroughs

  Hospitals Introduce A Groundbreaking Artery Test
  The Initial-Medial Thickness (IMT) test is better than a CT Scan because it doesn't use radiation and it detects artery damage earlier. This test is all about software and technological advanced equipment.The way that the test works is that the scam lights up the inside of the artery, making it easier to spot the artery wall. Even more dramatically, they can tell if a plaque buildup is likely to flake off and cause a stroke or heart attack.
  Future Cardiac Imaging
  X-rays can be used to find irregularly beating hearts, and when combined with another blood flow assesing program, cardiac imaging may become more advanced in future.
  FDA Approves Limb Saving Salvage Shunt
  This new technique can, if not save the limb completely, help the limb to retain most of its function. It reconnects severed blood vessels, so that instead of having to amputate the limb, it can be salvaged.

  Depth and Complexity in Current Issues

  
  Change Over Time
  Some people combine the depression and food: while in a deep depression they gorge themselves on food, usually high in grease and sugar. Consequentially, they become overweight and their arteries become encrusted with a plaque. The 21st century is causing us to become becoming suburbanized and lazy, and therefore increasing heart disease. To fight the steadily progressing heart problems, we have developed more advanced cures and rehabilitation after a heart attack or other events.
  
  Pattern
  Many of the heart problems above can be linked to stress and high cholesterol. That is why doctors stress how important it is to have a healthy diet and exercise frequently. Healthy living habits lead to a healthier life, and eating foods high in fat or being distressed about something can lead to heart disorders.
  
  Ethics
  Should we venture further into the development of heart care? It may be risky, but in some people's opinions it is worth it. Our heart is one of the most vital organs in our body, and we need to conserve it. With all of the pollution, junk foods, and drugs in the world these days, it is becoming even more important that we research these matters. On the other hand, the heart is delicate. Protected by our ribs, it is safely enclosed from most impacts, but not all. Impacts from things we inhale or digest can be dangerous to it, and performing new tests on this vital organ may put us at risk. Are we willing to take the gamble? Some think yes, others oppose.
  
  Big Idea
  In circulatory articles concerning health, they all come to the same conclusion: healthy eating and a healthy lifestyle leads to a healthy circulatory system.
  
  Multiple Perspectives
  Some people may think that some of these articles are overreactions, and that the general public has nothing to worry about. Awareness (see awareness section above) is a very important factor in lessening heart disease, because it is the perspective of these people that ups the amount of people dying annually from heart related conditions.