Different Diseases of the Circulatory System

The circulatory system includes the heart, blood vessels (arteries and veins) and the blood that circulates within. Diseases of the circulatory system occur due to poor diets, illness or genetic defects, or they can result from unknown origins.

Coronary Artery Disease

Coronary artery disease occurs when the arteries that deliver oxygen-rich blood to the heart are blocked by cholesterol buildup.

Tachycardia

Tachycardia occurs when the heart rate exceeds 100 beats per minute. The unsafe version of tachycardia has two types: supraventricular tachycardia (occurring in the atria) and ventricular tachycardia (occurring in the ventricles).

Rheumatic Heart Disease

Rheumatic heart disease is a complication resulting from rheumatic fever, which inflames connective tissue and, in the process, destroys heart valves. Symptoms of this complication take decades to appear, from 10 to 30 years after contracting the fever.

Giant Cell Arteritis

Giant cell arteritis occurs when the inner lining of the arteries become inflamed. This condition occurs mostly in the temples of the head.

High Blood Cholesterol

High blood cholesterol occurs when low-density fats build up in the blood stream due to a high-fat diet, lack of exercise, excessive alcohol consumption and various diseases such as liver or kidney disease.

References

• HeathLibrary.com - Tachycardia
• HealthLibrary.com -- Rheumatic Fever
• HealthLibrary.com -- Coronary Artery Disease

Resources

• Giant Cell Ateritis
• High Cholesterol