HLTH 335 1st Edition Lecture 8 Chapter 6 Diseases of the Cardiovascular System Organs of the Cardiovascular CV System Blood vessels Arteries Veins Capillaries Heart CV system a k a circulatory system Maintains the distribution of blood throughout the body CV System Two Parts Pulmonary circulation Between heart and lungs Transports deoxygenated blood to the lungs to get oxygen Then back to the heart Systemic circulation Carries oxygenated blood away from the heart to tissues and cells Then back to the heart All the body cells receive blood and oxygen Heart Valves 4 valves tricuspid pulmonary mitral aortic Act as restraining gates to control the direction of blood flow Situated at the entrances and exits to the ventricles When properly functioning valves allow blood to flow only in the forward direction by blocking it from returning to the previous chamber Three Types of Blood Vessels Arteries large thick walled vessels that carry blood away from the heart Veins carry blood back to the heart Capillaries connecting units between the arteries and veins They are very thin and carry oxygen rich blood from the arteries to the body cells Hypertension High BP Blood flow in the arteries results from the force of ventricular contraction Pressure is highest when ventricles contract systolic pressure These notes represent a detailed interpretation of the professor s lecture GradeBuddy is best used as a supplement to your own notes not as a substitute Pressure is lowest when ventricles relax diastolic pressure A BP reading is given as systolic over diastolic pressure e g 120 60 mm Hg Hypertension Risk Factors advancing age sedentary lifestyle excess weight excessive dietary salt excessive alcohol consumption family history of hypertension African American ancestry Hypertension the most common cardiovascular disorder affects about 33 of the adult population worldwide considered a major risk factor for heart disease stroke and kidney disease Primary hypertension typically does not cause symptoms If symptoms occur they are usually related to the long term effects of hypertension on the organ systems of the body including the kidneys heart eyes and blood vessels Treatment is aimed at reduction of blood pressure to less than 140 90 mm Hg Take Action to Reduce Your BP and Save Your Life Lose weight Weight loss is the single most effective non drug method to reduce blood pressure Exercise 30 to 35 minutes of exercise three times per week can decrease blood pressure especially when combined with weight loss Limit alcohol Alcohol raises blood pressure even without hypertensive disease Reduce fat intake and increase vegetable and fruit intake A diet high in vitamins and low in fats is associated lower blood pressure Reduce dietary salt Intake less than 2400 MG per day or less than 1 TSP Hyperlipidemia Hyperlipidemia general term used to describe an elevation of lipids or fats in the blood Lipids include cholesterol cholesterol esters phospholipids and triglycerides Cholesterol is a soft waxy substance that forms cell membranes and various hormones It is transported throughout the systemic circulation by transport proteins called lipoproteins HDL High Density Lipoproteins LDL Low Density Lipoproteins LDL vs HDL LDL carries bad cholesterol Transports cholesterol from blood stream into cells Can infiltrate arterial walls Correlated to atherosclerosis HDL carries good cholesterol Removes cholesterol from cells and carries it to liver for excretion Provides protection against heart disease Factors that raise HDL levels Regular exercise cessation of cigarette smoking a modest regular intake of alcoholic beverages Atherosclerosis vs Arteriosclerosis Diseases of the arteries characterized by plaque build up Significantly contribute to the development of other diseases in the CV system most notably heart disease Commonly referred to as hardening of the arteries Atherosclerosis Fat build up in arteries Risk factors High cholesterol Smoking Hypertension Diabetes Can lead to arteriosclerosis Arteriosclerosis Thickened artery walls which can be caused by Calcium deposits And possibly fat build up in arteries atherosclerosis The thickened walls become hard and inflexible Treatment and Control of Atherosclerosis Arteriosclerosis Control of blood pressure Reduction of cholesterol Smoking cessation Lifestyle changes Medications anti hypertensive meds cholesterol lowering meds Peripheral Arterial Disease PAD Diseases that affect peripheral arteries are similar to those affecting the coronary heart or carotid brain arteries produce ischemia or lack of blood and oxygen supply pain impaired function tissue damage and tissue necrosis damage death Atherosclerosis is an important cause of peripheral arterial disease Raynaud s Disease A condition in which small arteries or arterioles in the fingers and toes constrict Symptoms are spasms including numbness discoloration of the local skin of the fingers and toes and pain Spasms come and go and are most commonly triggered by cold As vessels constrict blood flow temporarily decreases causing the fingers and toes to turn white As the episode resolves the affected areas may turn pink or bluish in color Control of Raynaud s Disease Raynaud s disease can usually be controlled by protection from cold Smoking should be avoided as it constricts blood vessels regardless of environmental conditions Should be stopped completely to ensure best results Relaxation techniques can help reduce stress which may bring about an attack Intravascular Blood Clots Normally blood does not clot within the vascular system Pathogenesis of intravascular clotting when it does occur 1 Slowing or stasis of blood flow 2 Blood vessel wall damage 3 Increased coagulability of blood Thrombus an intravascular clot can occur in any vessel or within the heart is attached to vessel wall Embolism a detached clot carried into pulmonary or systemic circulation plugs vessel of smaller caliber than diameter of clot blocking blood flow and causing necrosis Venous Thrombosis Caused by stasis which can occur under various conditions periods of prolonged bed rest or prolonged cramping The normal milking action of leg musculature which promotes good blood flow is absent Varicose veins Post surgery inactivity combined with increased blood coagulability latter occurs naturally as result of tissue damage during surgery Effects May partially block venous return in the leg causing swelling Potential detachment of clot from vein wall