The cardiovascular system is one integrated system - changing one aspect with drugs alters everything else. The system is normally controlled within very fine limits by a variety of mechanisms - a knowledge of cardiovascular physiology is essential to understand cardiovascular pharmacology and use cardiovascular drugs safely.
| Organ | Problem | Drugs used | |
| heart | conducting system myocardium blood supply valves neural control |
arrhythmias reduced contractility ischaemia regurgitation rate |
anti-arrhythmics positive inotropes, vasodilators, diuretics vasodilators, diuretics vasodilators chronotropes |
| blood vessels | hypertension | vasodilators | |
| blood | volume red blood cells proteins ions |
hypovolaemia haemorrhage various problems various problems |
colloids (crystalloids) whole blood colloids, clotting factors crystalloids |
