Circulation refers to the supply of blood and its constituents to all organs or their parts. The associated processes are vital and ensure optimal functioning of the organism. Disturbances of the blood circulation result in sometimes severe diseases, which can even turn out to be life-threatening.
What is blood circulation?
The term blood circulation, known as perfusion in technical language, means supplying the organs with blood. This is done with the help of an extensive network of arteries for and veins. In this way, all areas of the organism are supplied with blood and its important nutrients, while the removal of metabolized products also takes place. Without blood circulation, metabolism, as it is necessary for the functioning of the organism, would not be possible. The body regulates blood circulation and its intensity according to its needs. Accordingly, it is essential for life. Disturbances can have different causes and result in sometimes life-threatening diseases. Medicine is able to artificially maintain blood flow to organs in the event of a failure of natural circulation.
Medical and health functions and tasks
Circulation, as its name implies, has the task of perfusing the body, that is, supplying it with blood. This is necessary because the blood contains important ingredients that are needed in the organs for their optimal function. With the help of the arteries, it is transported through the body by the heart and in this way supplies the organs with oxygen and nutrients. After the natural metabolism has taken place, the resulting residual substances and carbon dioxide are transported away through the veins. The body regulates its own blood flow and decides which organ, for example, needs to be supplied with additional blood, depending on its needs. In this context, experts distinguish between resting blood flow and maximum blood flow. In the former, the organs receive exactly as much blood as they need in a normal state. In this case, it is the kidneys that proportionally receive the largest share of blood. Furthermore, the brain and the gastrointestinal tract in particular are also supplied with larger amounts of blood. Maximum blood flow, for example during great exertion, means a significantly increased share of blood for the cardiovascular system and muscles. In the course of pregnancy, blood flow to the uterus increases more than tenfold. This ensures at all times that the body receives blood and nutrients exactly where it needs them most. The control of this automatic supply is very complex and consists of several simultaneous processes.
Diseases, ailments, and disorders
Disturbances in blood circulation always have a negative effect on the organism and thus on the health of the person concerned. The generic term circulatory disorders refers to reduced blood flow to certain organs or parts of organs occurring for various reasons. It can be a disturbance of the blood supply as well as of the flow. In most cases, however, both functions are affected. Often, circulatory disorders in arteries are caused by vascular calcification, for example, due to increasing age and/or an unhealthy lifestyle. Veins can be affected by thrombosis, for example. Disturbances in blood circulation usually do not lead to problems immediately and are therefore often only recognized at a late stage. The extent to which they lead to symptoms depends on the type of disorder and also on how far it has already progressed. If the circulatory disorders are not recognized or treated, they can damage the organs and tissue in the long term. Depending on the extent of these, the function of the affected organ can also be significantly restricted or eventually cease completely. In this case, life-threatening conditions may arise that require urgent medical treatment. If, for example, the heart or the heart muscle is no longer supplied with sufficient blood, a heart attack is imminent. If the reduced blood supply affects the brain, a stroke may result. Circulatory disorders of the kidneys can result in a kidney infarction, which can mean that the affected person can only survive in the future with the help of regular dialysis. Regular checking of the vessels and blood flow can therefore be vital.
