This document discusses several diseases and disorders of the circulatory system, including hypertension, hypotension, varicose veins, aneurysms, blood vessel obstructions, hemorrhages, and clotting disorders. Hypertension occurs when blood pressure is above normal levels, while hypotension is abnormally low blood pressure. Varicose veins are dilated veins caused by valve defects. Aneurysms are arterial dilations that can burst. Blood vessel obstructions include strokes from blockages and heart attacks. Hemorrhages are uncontrolled bleeding, and clotting disorders impair the body's ability to stop bleeding.

1. Diseases and Disorders of theDiseases and Disorders of the
Circulatory SystemCirculatory System

2. HypertensionHypertension
• Hypertension means “high pressure”Hypertension means “high pressure”
• Blood pressure is the force that the blood exerts, drivenBlood pressure is the force that the blood exerts, driven
by the heart. This pressure has two values:by the heart. This pressure has two values: systolicsystolic
pressurepressure (when the ventricles contract) and(when the ventricles contract) and diastolicdiastolic
pressurepressure (when the heart is relaxed)(when the heart is relaxed)
• Normal pressure is around 120 mm Hg (systolic) and 70-80Normal pressure is around 120 mm Hg (systolic) and 70-80
mm Hg (diastolic)mm Hg (diastolic)
• Hypertension occurs if the systolic pressure is over 140 mm HgHypertension occurs if the systolic pressure is over 140 mm Hg
or the diastolic pressure is over 100 mm Hgor the diastolic pressure is over 100 mm Hg
• Causes of high blood pressure include:Causes of high blood pressure include:
• Stress, consumption of stimulants (tobacco, caffeine, etc),Stress, consumption of stimulants (tobacco, caffeine, etc),
excess weight, excess salt in the dietexcess weight, excess salt in the diet

3. HypotensionHypotension
• Opposite of hypertension, when the blood pressure is veryOpposite of hypertension, when the blood pressure is very
lowlow
• May cause dizziness and faintingMay cause dizziness and fainting
• Causes of hypotension include:Causes of hypotension include:
• DehydrationDehydration
• MedicationMedication
• Sudden changes in postureSudden changes in posture

4. Varicose veinsVaricose veins
• Dilations in the veins, normally in the lower extremitiesDilations in the veins, normally in the lower extremities
• Causes by a defect in the valves that prevent blood fromCauses by a defect in the valves that prevent blood from
flowing back through the veinsflowing back through the veins
• Blood accumulates inside the veinsBlood accumulates inside the veins

5. AneurysmAneurysm
• The dilation of an artery, in which a kind of sac is formedThe dilation of an artery, in which a kind of sac is formed
• The danger of these blood accumulations depends on theThe danger of these blood accumulations depends on the
place where they are located, because they may burst atplace where they are located, because they may burst at
any momentany moment
• An aneurysm is especially dangerous if it occurs in the aortaAn aneurysm is especially dangerous if it occurs in the aorta
artery or in any artery in the brainartery or in any artery in the brain

6. Blood Vessel ObstructionBlood Vessel Obstruction
• StrokeStroke – produced when the interruption of blood supply– produced when the interruption of blood supply
affects a region of the brain, either due to a blood vesselaffects a region of the brain, either due to a blood vessel
breaking or becoming obstructedbreaking or becoming obstructed
• Embolism –Embolism – caused by blood clots, which dislodge andcaused by blood clots, which dislodge and
begin to travel throughout the bloodstreambegin to travel throughout the bloodstream
• These traveling blood clots may end up obstructing a bloodThese traveling blood clots may end up obstructing a blood
vessel, causing an embolismvessel, causing an embolism
• Myocardial infarctionMyocardial infarction (heart attack) – a complete(heart attack) – a complete
obstruction of the coronary arteriesobstruction of the coronary arteries
• The heart is deprived of oxygen and nutrients, and its cellsThe heart is deprived of oxygen and nutrients, and its cells
begin to die if blood flow is not reestablishedbegin to die if blood flow is not reestablished

7. Hemorrhages (Bleeding)Hemorrhages (Bleeding)
• When blood flows out of the blood vessels in an uncontrolledWhen blood flows out of the blood vessels in an uncontrolled
wayway
• External hemorrhagingExternal hemorrhaging (most widely known) - Blood flows out(most widely known) - Blood flows out
from a broken blood vessel and leaves the bodyfrom a broken blood vessel and leaves the body
• Internal hemorrhaging –Internal hemorrhaging – The blood flows out of the brokenThe blood flows out of the broken
blood vessel and stays inside the bodyblood vessel and stays inside the body
• The system that the body has to fight hemorrhaging isThe system that the body has to fight hemorrhaging is clotting.clotting.
• Platelets as well asPlatelets as well as clotting factorsclotting factors form fibrous structures thatform fibrous structures that
cover the hole through which the blood leaks outcover the hole through which the blood leaks out
• Clotting disordersClotting disorders (usually genetic) – Hemophilia is one of(usually genetic) – Hemophilia is one of
the most widely known and is linked to the X chromosomethe most widely known and is linked to the X chromosome
• Hemophilia is more common in men because women have anotherHemophilia is more common in men because women have another
X chromosome to compensate for the defective oneX chromosome to compensate for the defective one