[DISPLAY_ULTIMATE_SOCIAL_ICONS]
The Heart
- Pericardium
- Epicardium
- Myocardium
- atrial muscle
- ventricular muscle
- conductive tissue
- Endocardium
Coronary Arteries
- The Left Main (LM)
- Left Anterior Descending (LAD)
- Left Circumflex (LCX)
- The Right Coronary Artery (RCA)
- The RCA on the posterior part of the heart is often called the Posterior Descending Artery (PDA), in most cases it originate from the RCA but in some cases it comes from LCX
Understanding The Cardiovascular System
- Cardiovascular system includes: the heart, arteries, arterioles, capillaries, venules, and veins
- The heart
- Muscular, four chambered pump
- Contracts 100,000 times per day
- Two upper chambers: atria
- Two lower chambers: ventricles
- Tricuspid, pulmonary, mitral, and aortic valves
Heart Function
- Deoxygenated blood enters the right atrium
- From the right atrium blood moves to the right ventricle, pumped through the pulmonary artery to the lungs
- Oxygen blood enters the left atrium
- Blood from the left atrium is forced into the left ventricle
- The left ventricle pumps blood through the aorta to various parts of the body
Types Of Cardiovascular Disease
- Atherosclerosis
- Coronary heart disease (CHD)
- Chest pain (angina pectoris)
- Irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia)
- Congestive heart failure (CHF)
- Congenital and rheumatic heart disease
- Stroke
Risk Factors
- Hypertension
- Hypercholestrolemia
- diabetes
- obesity
- high dietary salt
- alcohol and cigarette consumption
- insufficient physical activities and stress
Artherosclerosis
- Characterized by deposits of fatty substances, cholesterol, cellular waste products, calcium, and fibrin in the inner lining of the artery
- Hyperlipidemia – abnormally high blood lipid level
- iPlaque – the buildup of deposits in the arteries
Coronary Heart Disease
- Myocardial infarction (MI) or heart attack – blood supplying the heart is disrupted
- Coronary thrombosis – blood clot in the artery
- Embolus – when the blood clot is dislodged and moves through the circulatory system
- Collateral circulation – if blockage to the heart is minor, an alternative blood flow is selected
Angina Pectoris
- Ischemia – reduction of the heart’s blood and oxygen supply
- The more serious the oxygen deprivation the more severe the pain
- Nitroglycerin – drug used to relax (dilate) the veins
- Beta blockers control potential overactivity of the heart muscle
Arrythmias
- An irregularity in heart rhythm
- Tachycardia – racing heart in the absence of exercise or anxiety
- Bradycardia – abnormally slow heartbeat
- Fibrillation – heart beat is sporadic, quivering pattern
Congestive Heart Failure (CHF)
- Damaged or overworked heart muscle is unable to keep blood circulating normally
- Affects over 5 million Americans
- Damage to heart muscle may result from: rheumatic fever, pneumonia, heart attack, or other cardiovascular problem
- Lack of proper circulation may allow blood to accumulate in the vessels of the legs, ankles, or lungs
- Diuretics relieve fluid accumulation
Congenital And Rheumatic Heart Disease
- Congenital heart disease affects 1 out of 125 children born
- May be due to hereditary factors, maternal diseases, or chemical intake (alcohol) during fetal development
- Rheumatic heart disease results from rheumatic fever which affects connective tissue
Stroke
- Occurs when the blood supply to the brain is interrupted
- Thrombus – blood clot
- Embolus – free flowing clot
- Aneurysm – bulging or burst blood vessel
- Transient ischemic attack (TIA) – brief interruptions that cause temporary impairment
Common Blood Vessel Disorders
Reducing Your Risk For Cardiovascular Diseases
- Risks you can control
- Avoid tobacco
- Cut back on saturated fat and cholesterol
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Modify dietary habits
- Exercise regularly
- Control diabetes
- Control blood pressure
- Systolic – upper number
- Diastolic – lower number
- Manage stress
- Risks you cannot control
- Heredity
- Age
- Gender
- Race
Angioplasty Versus Bypass Surgery
- Angioplasty – a thin catheter is threaded through the blocked arteries. The catheter has a balloon on the tip which is inflated to flatten the fatty deposits against the wall of the artery
- Coronary bypass surgery – a blood vessel is taken from another site and implanted to bypass blocked arteries and transport blood
Aspirin For Heart Disease?
- Research shows that 80 milligrams of aspirin every other day is beneficial to heart patients due to its blood thinning properties
- Some side effects of aspirin: gastrointestinal intolerance and a tendency for difficulty with blood clotting
- Should only be taken under the advice of your physician
How Do I Know If My Heart is Healthy?
Life’s Simple 7
- Avoid smoking and using tobacco products
- Be physically active every day
- Eat a heart-healthy diet
- Keep a healthy weight
- Keep your blood pressure healthy
- Keep your total cholesterol healthy
- Keep your blood sugar healthy
Types of Moderate and Vigorous Physical Activity
- Bike riding
- Swimming
- Brisk walking
- Tennis
- Gardening
- Jogging
- Soccer
- Aerobics
- Dancing
- Jumping rope
Personal Advocacy And Heart-Smart Behaviors
- Know your rights as a patient
- Find out about informed consent procedures, living wills, durable power of attorney, organ donation, and other legal issues BEFORE you become sick
- Ask about alternative procedures
- Remain with your loved one as a personal advocate
- Monitor the actions of health care providers
- Be considerate of your care provider
- Be patient with the patient
