All cells in the body need to have oxygen and nutrients, and they need their wastes

removed. These are the main roles of the circulatory system. The heart, blood, and blood
vessels work together to service the cells of the body.

The circulatory system (cardiovascular system) pumps blood from the heart to the lungs to
get oxygen. The heart then sends oxygenated blood through arteries to the rest of the
body. The veins carry oxygen-poor blood back to the heart to start the circulation process
over. Your circulatory system is critical to healthy organs, muscles, and tissues.

Your circulatory system functions with the help of blood vessels that include arteries, veins,
and capillaries. These blood vessels work with your heart and lungs to continuously
circulate blood through your body. Here’s how:

1. The heart sends blood that’s low in oxygen (oxygen-poor blood) to the lungs.
Blood travels through the pulmonary trunk
2. Blood cells pick up oxygen in the lungs.
3. Pulmonary veins carry the oxygenated blood from the lungs to the heart.
4. Heart pumps blood out to the body through the arteries.
5. As it moves through your body and organs, blood collects and drops off
nutrients, hormones and waste products.
6. The veins carry deoxygenated blood and carbon dioxide back to the heart,
which sends the blood to the lungs.
7. Your lungs get rid of the carbon dioxide when you exhale.

Overall, circulatory system diseases can cause a range of issues, including:

● Problems with your heart’s pumping action.

● Changes to your heart’s structure.
● Inefficient blood flow.
● Blocked or narrowed blood vessels.
● Weakened blood vessels.

Aneurysms

Aneurysms are weak spots in the walls of your arteries that can expand like a
balloon. As they continue to get bigger, they’re at risk for rupture (breaking open) or
causing blood clots. Aneurysms can occur in any artery.

Arrhythmias

An arrhythmia is an irregular or abnormal heartbeat. Some begin in the upper

chambers of your heart (atria). These are called supraventricular arrhythmias. Atrial
fibrillation is the most common type.

Atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis is the buildup of plaque in your arteries. Over time, the plaque
narrows your arteries and makes it harder for blood to flow through. The plaque is
also dangerous because it can rupture and trigger a blood clot.

Blood pressure conditions

Your blood pressure is a number that shows how forcefully blood flows through your
blood vessels. Your blood pressure normally changes during the day and adjusts to
your activity level. But blood pressure that’s too high or too low can be dangerous.

Cardiomyopathy

Cardiomyopathy is a group of conditions that affect your heart muscle, leading to

weakened heart squeeze. These conditions harm your heart’s ability to pump blood.
Specific types of cardiomyopathy include:

Congenital heart disease

Congenital heart disease refers to heart problems babies are born with. Congenital
heart disease is sometimes heritable (passed down within biological families). Other
times, it occurs in people with no family history. Nearly 1 in 100 people have some
form of congenital heart disease.