A stroke or cardiovascular accident is a type of cardiovascular condition that affects the blood vessels in charge of supplying blood, vital oxygen, and nutrients to the brain. A stroke occurs when a blood vessel is either blocked by a clot or ruptures. The blood flow is interrupted, depriving that particular area of the brain [...]

Circulatory system problems arise when there is limited blood flow to the legs, hands, heart and rest of the body. The blood vessels become blocked as a fatty substance called plaque builds up and hardens and constricts the walls of the arteries and veins. This interrupts the normal flow of blood through the vessels and [...]

Blood pressure is defined as the force that the blood exerts on the veins and arteries while it circulates around the body. If this force is greater than it should be, it is often referred to as high blood pressure or hypertension. Blood pressure is controlled by a variety of organs and body systems, including [...]

Heart failure describes the condition where the heart is not pumping at full efficiency and cannot keep up with the blood flow demand from the body’s organs. When the heart no longer pumps as it should, the organs in the body become deprived of oxygen and nutrients, and symptoms soon arise.

Cardiomyopathy is a disease of the heart muscle that either causes a weakening of the heart muscle or a change in its structure. While there are different types of cardiomyopathy, they all affect the heart’s ability to pump blood throughout the body and can thus have serious consequences.

The term ‘blood thinners’ refers to a group of allopathic medications known as anticoagulants. They are used to prevent the cells in the blood from clotting too readily and forming blood clots within the vessels. Although they are referred to as blood thinners, they do not actually thin the blood. They work by decreasing the [...]

Blood pressure is the force that the blood exerts on the veins and arteries while it circulates through the body. We express the measurement of blood pressure as a ratio, such as 120/80 mmHg. The first number is the pressure exerted when blood is pumped into the arteries as the heart muscle contracts (systolic pressure). [...]

Arteriosclerosis is one of the most common diseases of the arteries. This disease occurs when plaque (which is made up of cholesterol, fibrin, platelets and other substances) forms on the walls of the arteries and obstructs the normal flow and circulation of blood. The arteries become narrowed and the walls lose their elasticity, causing blood [...]

Cardiac arrhythmias, also commonly called arrhythmias, are irregularities of the heart beat. For the most part, the normal, constant rhythm of the heartbeat that ensures essential blood flow throughout the body goes unnoticed. But for some people, problems arise as the electrical impulses that synchronize the heart beat don’t function properly, causing the heart to [...]

Angina pectoris is the medical term for chest pain or the feeling of pressure in the chest that occurs when the heart muscle does not receive a sufficient supply of blood and oxygen. When the arteries supplying blood and oxygen to the heart are blocked, the blood flow to the heart muscle is obstructed and [...]