Circulation and Respiration
Research into circulation and respiration deals principally with the heart, blood vessels and lungs. It spans several important medical fields and diseases which impact significantly on both individuals and society.
Articles and features
Stop gulping away – you're not short of water
Water is essential for life, but we don't need large quantities to keep us going – on the contrary, over-hydrating can be dangerous.
Hot days put our bodies to the test
Bathing in the coldest of waters and disappointed faces when clouds cover the sun. The Swedes worship warm summer weather. But heat waves are expected to become increasingly common in the future – and we need to start learning about the dangers of high temperatures.
The dirty truth about dust
Some people say that no one has ever died from a little dust. On the contrary, say others, dust is deadly. In reality, not all dust can be tarred with the same brush. Here is a guide to the dirt on earth – and on the moon.
Children’s lung capacity improved in cleaner air
As air pollution in Stockholm has decreased, so has the lung capacity of children and adolescents has improved, a new study published in the European Respiratory Journal reports. The researchers from Karolinska Institutet consider the results important, since the lung health of the young greatly affects the risk of their developing chronic lung diseases later in life.
Study shows sex differences in the physiology of the heart
Thanks to new technology, researchers at Karolinska Institutet have been able to show that females have higher myocardial perfusion, blood volume and extracellular volume in the heart compared to males. These findings were published in the journal Scientific Reports.
Spotlight on cardiac arrest
Every year in Sweden, about 10,000 people suffer from sudden cardiac arrest outside of hospital, that means more than 25 people every day. As few as one in ten survive a cardiac arrest outside of hospital. But a whole battery of studies is underway in the attempt to optimise all parts of the chain of survival.
Spotlight on high blood pressure
At least 1.8 million Swedes suffers from hypertension, a high blood pressure. But even though blood pressure medication is considered one of the most important life-saving treatments, many people go around with high blood pressure without knowing it. The only way to find out your blood pressure is by getting it measured.
Recent news in circulation and respiration
Some of our professors in this area
Preventing hereditary cardiac arrest
Inherited heart diseases may present with no forewarning. A young person with no previous signs of disease can suddenly suffer a cardiac arrest while out on a run or playing football. Kristina Haugaa’s research aims to prevent such events.
New life-saving methods for cardiac arrest
Jacob Hollenberg conducts research to increase the survival rate after cardiac arrest. He leads the KI Center for resuscitation science, which develops and studies new innovative methods and treatments along the entire cardiac care pathway.
Early years' impact on long-term lung health
Erik Melén conducts research on the causes of allergies, asthma, and other paediatric lung problems as well as the factors that influence disease progression over time. His goal is to develop knowledge and treatments for better lung health over a person’s lifetime.
The role of cholesterol in cardiovascular disease
Uwe Tietge researches the function of cholesterol in the body. His aim is to map basic mechanisms of metabolism’s molecular regulation and to identify novel targets for innovative cardio-vascular disease treatments.
Improving understanding of diastolic heart failure
Findings about the causal relationship between heart failure and problems in the heart’s relaxation phase are relatively new. Lars Lund is conducting research into the underlying mechanisms of diastolic heart failure and how it can be treated.
Tracing mechanisms behind COPD
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), including chronic bronchitis, causes many deaths and much suffering worldwide. Lena Palmberg has developed lung tissue models to aid understanding of what happens in the body when these diseases strike.
The risk factors' common denominator
Factors such as diabetes, overweight and ageing entail a higher risk of cardiovascular disease. But how exactly do they do so? That is what Francesco Cosentino wants to find out.
Heart attack despite having healthy coronary arteries
Per Tornvall’s research group is studying the causes of takotsubo – broken heart syndrome – and the risks it entails.
Better treatment of cardiovascular disease
Magnus Bäck is researching the molecular mechanisms which cause atherosclerosis and valvular heart disease, and how they can be turned to clinical benefit.