Circulatory System Diseases and Disorders

1. Angina
Angina is chest pain or discomfort caused when your heart muscle doesn't get enough oxygen-rich
blood. It may feel like pressure or squeezing in your chest. The discomfort also can occur in your
shoulders, arms, neck, jaw, or back. Angina pain may even feel like indigestion. But, angina is not a
disease. It is a symptom of an underlying heart problem, usually coronary heart disease (CHD).
Cause: Angina is caused by reduced blood flow to your heart muscle. Your blood carries oxygen, which
your heart muscle needs to survive. When your heart muscle isn't getting enough oxygen, it causes a
condition called ischemia.
Symptoms:
o Chest pain or discomfort
o Pain in your arms, neck, jaw, shoulder or back accompanying chest pain
o Nausea
o Fatigue
o Shortness of breath
o Sweating
o Dizziness
Treatment: There are many options for angina treatment, including lifestyle changes, medications,
angioplasty and stenting, or coronary bypass surgery. The goals of treatment are to reduce the frequency
and severity of your symptoms and to lower your risk of heart attack and death. However, if you have
unstable angina or angina pain that's different from what you usually have, such as occurring when you're
at rest, you need immediate treatment in a hospital.
2. Atherosclerosis
Atherosclerosis is a specific type of arteriosclerosis, but the terms are sometimes used
interchangeably. Atherosclerosis refers to the buildup of fats, cholesterol and other substances in and on
your artery walls (plaques), which can restrict blood flow.
Causes: Atherosclerosis is a slow, progressive disease that may begin as early as childhood. Although the
exact cause is unknown, atherosclerosis may start with damage or injury to the inner layer of an artery.
The damage may be caused by:
o High blood pressure
o High cholesterol
o High triglycerides, a type of fat (lipid) in your blood
o Smoking and other sources of tobacco
o Insulin resistance, obesity or diabetes
o Inflammation from diseases, such as arthritis, lupus or infections, or inflammation of unknown
cause
Symptoms: Atherosclerosis develops gradually. Mild atherosclerosis usually doesn't have any
symptoms. You usually won't have atherosclerosis symptoms until an artery is so narrowed or
clogged that it can't supply adequate blood to your organs and tissues. Sometimes a blood clot
completely blocks blood flow, or even breaks apart and can trigger a heart attack or stroke.
Treatment: Lifestyle changes, such as eating a healthy diet and exercising, are often the most
appropriate treatment for atherosclerosis. Sometimes, medication or surgical procedures may be
recommended as well. Medications: Cholesterol medications, Anti-platelet medications, Beta blocker
medications, Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, Calcium channel blockers, and Water
pills (diuretics). Surgical Procedures: Angioplasty and stent placement, Endarterectomy, and
Fibrinolytic therapy, Bypass surgery.

3. Aortic Aneurysm
 An aortic aneurysm is an abnormal bulge that occurs in the wall of the major blood vessel (aorta)
that carries blood from your heart to your body. Aortic aneurysms can occur anywhere in your aorta
and may be tube-shaped (fusiform) or round (saccular).
Causes: Most aortic aneurysms occur in the part of your aorta that's in your abdomen. Although the exact
cause of abdominal aortic aneurysms is unknown, a number of factors may play a role, including:
Tobacco use, Hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis), High blood pressure, Blood vessel diseases in
the aorta, Infection in the aorta, Trauma, Heredity.
Symptoms: Abdominal aortic aneurysms often grow slowly and usually without symptoms, making them
difficult to detect. Some aneurysms will never rupture. Many start small and stay small, although many
expand over time. Others expand quickly. Predicting how fast an abdominal aortic aneurysm may enlarge
is difficult. As an abdominal aortic aneurysm enlarges, some people may notice:
o A pulsating feeling near the navel
o Deep, constant pain in your abdomen or on the side of your abdomen
o Back pain
Treatment: The goal of treatment is to prevent your aneurysm from rupturing. Generally, your treatment
options are medical monitoring or surgery. Your doctor's decision depends on the size of the aortic
aneurysm and how fast it's growing. If your abdominal aortic aneurysm is small and you're not
experiencing symptoms, your doctor may recommend medical monitoring, which includes regular
appointments to make sure your aneurysm isn't growing, and management of other medical conditions
that could worsen your aneurysm. Your doctor will also ask you about any signs or symptoms you may be
experiencing that could be related to the aneurysm. If you have an abdominal aortic aneurysm, surgery is
generally recommended if your aneurysm is about 1.9 to 2.2 inches (about 5 to 5.5 centimeters) or larger.
Doctors may also recommend surgery if the aneurysm is growing quickly.
4. Heart Attack
A heart attack occurs when the flow of blood to the heart is blocked, most often by a build-up of fat,
cholesterol and other substances, which form a plaque in the arteries that feed the heart (coronary
arteries). The interrupted blood flow can damage or destroy part of the heart muscle. A heart attack, also
called a myocardial infarction, can be fatal, but treatment has improved dramatically over the years. It's
crucial to call 911 or emergency medical help if you think you might be having a heart attack.
Causes: A heart attack occurs when one or more of your coronary arteries become blocked. Over time, a
coronary artery can narrow from the buildup of various substances, including cholesterol
(atherosclerosis). This condition, known as coronary artery disease, causes most heart attacks. During a
heart attack, one of these plaques can rupture and spill cholesterol and other substances into the
bloodstream. A blood clot forms at the site of the rupture. If large enough, the clot can completely block
the flow of blood through the coronary artery. Another cause of a heart attack is a spasm of a coronary
artery that shuts down blood flow to part of the heart muscle. Use of tobacco and of illicit drugs, such as
cocaine, can cause a life-threatening spasm. A heart attack can also occur due to a tear in the heart artery
(spontaneous coronary artery dissection).
Symptoms: Not all people who have heart attacks have the same symptoms or have the same severity of
symptoms. Some people have mild pain; others have more severe pain. Some people have no symptoms,
while for others; the first sign may be sudden cardiac arrest. However, the more signs and symptoms you
have, the greater the likelihood you're having a heart attack. Common heart attack signs and symptoms
include:
o Pressure, tightness, pain, or a squeezing or aching sensation in your chest or arms that may spread
to your neck, jaw or back
o Nausea, indigestion, heartburn or abdominal pain
o Shortness of breath
o Cold sweat
o Fatigue
o Lightheadedness or sudden dizziness
Treatment: Medications given to treat a heart attack include: Aspirin, Thrombolytics, Antiplatelet agents,
other blood-thinning medications, Pain relievers, Nitroglycerin, Beta blockers, and ACE inhibitors. In
addition to medications, you may undergo one of the following procedures to treat your heart attack:
Coronary angioplasty and stenting, Coronary artery bypass surgery.
5. Cardiomyopathy
Cardiomyopathy is a progressive disease of the myocardium, or heart muscle. In most cases, the heart
muscle weakens and is unable to pump blood to the rest of the body as well as it should. There are many
different types of cardiomyopathy caused by a range of factors, from coronary heart disease to certain
drugs. These can all lead to an irregular heartbeat, heart failure, a heart valve problem, or other
complications. Cardiomyopathy generally has four types.
o Dilated cardiomyopathy
The most common form, dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), occurs when your heart muscle is too weak to
pump blood efficiently. The muscles stretch and become thinner. This allows the chambers of your heart
to expand. This is also known as enlarged heart. You can inherit it, or it can be due to coronary artery
disease.
o Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is believed to be genetic. It occurs when your heart walls thicken and
prevent blood from flowing through your heart. It’s a fairly common type of cardiomyopathy. It can also
be caused by long-term high blood pressure or aging. Diabetes or thyroid disease can also cause
hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. There are other instances that the cause is unknown.
o Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia (ARVD)
Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia (ARVD) is a very rare form of cardiomyopathy, but it’s the
leading cause of sudden death in young athletes. In this type of genetic cardiomyopathy, fat and extra
fibrous tissue replaces the muscle of the right ventricle. This causes abnormal heart rhythms.
o Restrictive cardiomyopathy
Restrictive cardiomyopathy is the least common form. It occurs when the ventricles stiffen and can’t relax
enough to fill up with blood. Scarring of the heart, which frequently occurs after a heart transplant, may
be a cause. It can also occur as a result of heart disease.
Causes: Often, the cause of the cardiomyopathy is unknown. In some people, however, doctors are able
to identify some contributing factors. Possible causes of cardiomyopathy include: Genetic conditions,
Long-term high blood pressure, Heart tissue damage from a previous heart attack, Chronic rapid heart
rate, Heart valve problems, etc.
Symptoms: In the early stages, people with cardiomyopathy may not have any signs and symptoms. But
as the condition advances, signs and symptoms usually appear. Cardiomyopathy signs and symptoms may
include: Breathlessness with exertion or even at rest, Swelling of the legs, ankles and feet, Bloating of the
abdomen due to fluid buildup, Cough while lying down, Fatigue, Irregular heartbeats that feel rapid,
pounding or fluttering, Chest pain, and Dizziness, lightheadedness and fainting
No matter what type of cardiomyopathy you have, signs and symptoms tend to get worse unless treated.
In certain people, this worsening happens quickly, while in others, cardiomyopathy may not worsen for a
long time
Treatment: If you're diagnosed cardiomyopathy, your doctor may recommend treatment including:
Medications and Surgically implanted devices, Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD), Septal
myectomy, Septal ablation and Radiofrequency ablation. Treatment for restrictive cardiomyopathy
focuses on improving symptoms. Your doctor will recommend you pay careful attention to your salt and
water intake and monitor your weight daily. Your doctor may also recommend you take diuretics if
sodium and water retention becomes a problem. You may be prescribed medications to lower your blood
pressure or control abnormal heart rhythms. Ventricular assist devices (VADs) can help blood circulate
through your heart. They usually are considered after less invasive approaches are unsuccessful. These
devices can be used as a long-term treatment or as a short-term treatment while waiting for a heart
transplant. You may be a candidate for a heart transplant if medications and other treatments are no
longer effective, and you have end-stage heart failure.