Blood Circulation Pathway

Blood Circulation

• Blood Circulation Pathway:
  • Deoxygenated blood returns to the heart through the superior and inferior vena cava
  • Blood is pumped from the right ventricle to the lungs to pick up oxygen
  • Oxygen-rich blood returns to the heart through the pulmonary veins
  • Blood is pumped from the left ventricle to the aorta, distributing oxygen to the body
• Components of Blood Circulation:
  • Heart: pumps blood throughout the body
  • Arteries: carry oxygenated blood away from the heart
  • Veins: carry deoxygenated blood back to the heart
  • Capillaries: allow for exchange of oxygen and nutrients with tissues

Blood Pressure Regulation

• Short-Term Regulation:
  • Baroreceptors: monitor blood pressure and send signals to the brain
  • Brainstem: receives signals and sends signals to the heart and blood vessels to regulate blood pressure
  • Vasodilation/vasoconstriction: adjusting blood vessel diameter to increase/decrease blood pressure
  • Heart rate: increasing/decreasing heart rate to increase/decrease blood pressure
• Long-Term Regulation:
  • Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system: regulates blood pressure through kidney function and hormone regulation
  • Aldosterone: regulates sodium reabsorption and potassium excretion in the kidneys

Cardiovascular Diseases

• Types of Cardiovascular Diseases:
  • Atherosclerosis: buildup of plaque in arteries, leading to narrowed or blocked arteries
  • Hypertension: high blood pressure, increasing risk of heart disease and stroke
  • Heart Failure: inability of the heart to pump enough blood to meet the body's needs
  • Myocardial Infarction: heart attack, caused by blockage of coronary arteries
• Risk Factors:
  • Lifestyle: smoking, physical inactivity, unhealthy diet
  • Genetic: family history, age, sex
  • Medical: high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes
• Prevention and Treatment:
  • Lifestyle changes: quitting smoking, increasing physical activity, healthy diet
  • Medications: to lower blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar
  • Surgery: angioplasty, bypass surgery, heart transplantation

Blood Circulation

• Deoxygenated blood returns to the heart through the superior and inferior vena cava
• Blood is pumped from the right ventricle to the lungs to pick up oxygen
• Oxygen-rich blood returns to the heart through the pulmonary veins
• Blood is pumped from the left ventricle to the aorta, distributing oxygen to the body
• Heart pumps blood throughout the body
• Arteries carry oxygenated blood away from the heart
• Veins carry deoxygenated blood back to the heart
• Capillaries allow for exchange of oxygen and nutrients with tissues

Blood Pressure Regulation

• Baroreceptors monitor blood pressure and send signals to the brain
• Brainstem receives signals and sends signals to the heart and blood vessels to regulate blood pressure
• Vasodilation and vasoconstriction adjust blood vessel diameter to increase/decrease blood pressure
• Heart rate increases/decreases to increase/decrease blood pressure
• Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system regulates blood pressure through kidney function and hormone regulation
• Aldosterone regulates sodium reabsorption and potassium excretion in the kidneys

Cardiovascular Diseases

• Atherosclerosis: buildup of plaque in arteries, leading to narrowed or blocked arteries
• Hypertension: high blood pressure, increasing risk of heart disease and stroke
• Heart Failure: inability of the heart to pump enough blood to meet the body's needs
• Myocardial Infarction: heart attack, caused by blockage of coronary arteries
• Lifestyle risk factors: smoking, physical inactivity, unhealthy diet
• Genetic risk factors: family history, age, sex
• Medical risk factors: high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes
• Prevention and treatment methods include lifestyle changes, medications, and surgery

Cardiovascular Diseases

Types of Cardiovascular Diseases

• Atherosclerosis is a condition where plaque builds up in arteries, leading to narrowing and hardening.
• Coronary Artery Disease occurs when plaque builds up in coronary arteries, leading to heart attack or angina.
• Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease.
• Heart Failure is a condition where the heart cannot pump enough blood to meet the body's needs.
• Stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain is blocked, leading to brain damage or death.
• Peripheral Artery Disease is a condition where peripheral arteries become narrowed, leading to pain and cramping in legs and arms.

Risk Factors

• Modifiable risk factors include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, diabetes, physical inactivity, and obesity.
• Non-modifiable risk factors include age, family history, and gender.

Symptoms and Diagnosis

• Common symptoms include chest pain or discomfort, shortness of breath, fatigue, swelling in legs and feet, and palpitations.
• Diagnostic tests include electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG), echocardiogram, stress test, and blood tests such as lipid profile and troponin levels.

Treatment and Prevention

• Lifestyle changes include a healthy diet, regular exercise, weight management, and stress reduction.
• Medications used to treat cardiovascular disease include statins, beta blockers, ACE inhibitors, and anticoagulants.
• Surgical interventions include angioplasty and stenting, bypass surgery, and heart transplantation.

Epidemiology and Statistics

• Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death worldwide.
• In the US, 1 in 4 deaths are attributed to cardiovascular disease.
• The estimated annual cost of cardiovascular disease in the US is $1 trillion.