Editing Circulatory system (section)

===Cardiovascular disease===
{{Main|Cardiovascular disease}}
Diseases affecting the cardiovascular system are called ''cardiovascular disease''.

Many of these diseases are called "[[lifestyle disease]]s" because they develop over time and are related to a person's exercise habits, diet, whether they smoke, and other lifestyle choices a person makes. [[Atherosclerosis]] is the precursor to many of these diseases. It is where small [[Atheroma|atheromatous plaques]] build up in the walls of medium and large arteries. This may eventually grow or rupture to occlude the arteries. It is also a risk factor for [[acute coronary syndrome]]s, which are diseases that are characterised by a sudden deficit of oxygenated blood to the heart tissue. Atherosclerosis is also associated with problems such as [[aneurysm]] formation or splitting ("dissection") of arteries.

Another major cardiovascular disease involves the creation of a [[Thrombus|clot, called a "thrombus"]]. These can originate in veins or arteries. [[Deep venous thrombosis]], which mostly occurs in the legs, is one cause of clots in the veins of the legs, particularly when a person has been stationary for a long time. These clots may [[Embolus|embolise]], meaning travel to another location in the body. The results of this may include [[pulmonary embolus]], [[transient ischaemic attack]]s, or [[stroke]].

Cardiovascular diseases may also be congenital in nature, such as [[Congenital heart defect|heart defects]] or [[persistent fetal circulation]], where the circulatory changes that are supposed to happen after birth do not. Not all congenital changes to the circulatory system are associated with diseases, a large number are [[anatomical variation]]s.