Respiratory System Diseases
Respiratory System Diseases
Respiratory System Diseases
Overview
The circulatory system is your heart and blood vessels, and it’s essential to keeping
your body functioning. This finely tuned system carries oxygen, nutrients,
electrolytes, and hormones throughout your body. Interruptions, blockage, or diseases
that affect how your heart or blood vessels pump blood can cause complications such
as heart disease or stroke.
These complications can arise due to a variety of factors, from genetics to lifestyle.
Read on to learn more about the types circulatory system diseases and disorders and
what their symptoms are.
There are no symptoms with high blood pressure, which is why it’s often called “the
silent killer.” For more information, read about hypertension.
Coronary artery disease indicates that the plaque buildup in your arteries has caused
the arteries to narrow and harden. Blood clots can further block the arteries.
Coronary artery disease develops over time. You can have it but not be aware of any
symptoms. Other times, it may cause chest pain or the sensation of heaviness in the
chest.
Heart attacks
A heart attack occurs when not enough blood reaches your heart. This can happen due
to artery blockage. Heart attacks damage the heart muscle and are medical
emergencies.
Call 911 or have someone else call if you have symptoms such as:
pain in the center or left side of the chest that feels like mild or severe
discomfort, pressure, fullness, or squeezing
pain that radiates from the jaw, shoulder, arm, or across the back
shortness of breath
sweating
nausea
irregular heartbeat
unconsciousness
Women often experience heart attacks a little differently, with pressure or aching in
their back and chest.
Learn more: Heart attack symptoms in men and women »
Heart failure
Sometimes called congestive heart failure, heart failure occurs when the heart muscle
is weakened or damaged. It can no longer pump the volume of blood needed through
the body. Heart failure normally occurs when you’ve had other heart problems, such
as a heart attack or coronary artery disease.
Early symptoms of heart failure include fatigue, swelling in your ankles, and
increased need to urinate at night. More severe symptoms include rapid breathing,
chest pain, and fainting. For more on heart failure and how to recognize it, read
about congestive heart failure.
Strokes
Strokes often occur when a blood clot blocks an artery in the brain and
reduces the blood supply. They also can happen when a blood vessel in the
brain breaks open. Both events keep blood and oxygen from reaching the
brain. As a result, parts of the brain are likely to be damaged.
A stroke requires immediate medical attention. You can identify a stroke with
a FAST test:
Share on Pinterest