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Atherosclerosis: Coronary Heart Disease

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Atherosclerosis is the leading cause of coronary heart disease, the number one killer of Americans (). The inflammatory process is known to lead to a myriad of other cardiovascular complications including, coronary heart disease, stroke and myocardial infarctions. It is important

The objective of the circulatory system is to transport blood throughout the human body through a series of interconnected blood vessels. Major components of this system include the heart, blood and blood vessels (arteries, veins and capillaries). Furthermore, in the pulmonary circuit, the heart works in tandem with the lungs to oxygenate returning venous blood in preparation for distribution throughout the body via the arteries. In the systematic circuit, blood …show more content…

The circulation of blood allows for the transport of nutrients, gases, blood cells and hormones for immunological defense, nutrition, as well as temperature, pH and homeostatic maintenance. The heart muscle circulates blood, a fluid containing erythrocytes, leukocytes platelets and plasma. Since humans have a closed cardiovascular system, gases and nutrients diffuse across blood vessels into interstitial fluid, which then carry these essential components to various cells, while moving cellular waste products away. The arteries transport oxygenated blood from the left ventricle through the aortic semilunar valve. Circulation begins in the aorta, a large, arched, thickset artery that branches into major arteries of the trunk as well as arteries of the lower extremities below the diaphragm. Capillaries are a system of small blood vessels that transport blood to the venous system after distributing …show more content…

Blockages cause arteries to narrow and weaken resulting in inadequate blood flow to bodily tissue, which can harm major organs that receive depleted oxygen and nutrient supplies. Plaque is surrounded by a fibrous capsule that may break with increased blood flow or narrowing arteries. Immune cells trying to repair the arterial wall may result in a blot clot that seals the area. Such repairs can cause major blockages in the coronary artery supplying the heart resulting in cardiac arrest. Blockages can occur in any region of the body including the major extremities, the heart and the brain. Restricted blood flow to the heart is known as coronary artery disease and affects the blood supply to the heart muscle, resulting in Cardiac Ischemia; characterized by decreased blood flow and oxygen to the heart muscle. These conditions similarly affect the brain in carotid artery disease and the limbs and lower body in peripheral artery disease. While cholesterol reduces the flexibility of the vessels high blood pressure can cause thinning of arterial walls due to friction and abrasions, creating weak areas. With aging it takes more effort for the circulatory system to transport blood causing arteries to become weak, encouraging plaque build up in combination with high fat

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