Archive for the ‘Heart & Circulation’ Category
Saturday, May 24th, 2008 |
In a normal heart, electrical signals use only one path whilst moving through the heart. This is the atrio-ventricular or A-V node. As the electrical signal moves from the hearts upper chambers (the atria) to the lower chambers (the ventricles), it causes the heart to beat. For the heart to beat properly, the timing of the electrical signal is important.
If there is an extra conduction pathway, the electrical signal may arrive at the ventricles too soon. This condition is called Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome (WPW). It is in a category of electrical abnormalities called “pre-excitation syndromes.”
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Friday, May 23rd, 2008 |
Heart disease is a term that applies to a large number of medical conditions relating to the heart. These medical conditions relate to the abnormal health conditions that directly affect the heart and all its components. Heart disease is a major health problem within some cultures.
One theory for heart disease is the radical changes within our lifestyles. People are often less active and eat diets high in fats. Takeaway food is abundant today and often people will eat it due to the increased availability. Some takeaway outlets are now helping cater to a healthier lifestyle by offering a variety of healthy dishes such as salads. People are becoming more aware of the risk of heart disease and choosing to change their diets.
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Thursday, May 22nd, 2008 |
Heart disease is a global problem that affects both rich and poor countries. Tachycardia is one of many medical health conditions that relate to the heart. In a normal adult, the average heart beat is sixty to one hundred beats per minute. A heart beating above one hundred beats per minute is called Tachycardia (the heart is pumping too fast). This condition can occur naturally, such as when you are exercising resulting in the heart rate being accelerated Tachycardia can also cause life threatening and serious heart problems.
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Wednesday, May 21st, 2008 |
Peripheral vascular disease (PVD) involves damage to or blockage in the blood vessels distant from your heart, the peripheral arteries and veins. The peripheral arteries and veins carry blood to and from arm and leg muscles plus the organs in and below the stomach area. PVD may also affect the arteries leading to your head. The main forms PVD may take include blood clots, swelling (inflammation), or narrowing and blockage of the blood vessels.
Diseases of the arteries may lead to Arterial Blockage, Aortic aneurysms, Buerger’s Disease and Raynaud’s’s phenomenon.
Disease of the veins may lead to Venous Blood Clots, Pulmonary embolism, Phlebitis or Varicose veins.
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Tuesday, May 20th, 2008 |
The pericardium is a thin, sac-like covering (a membrane) that surrounds the heart. The outer layer of the pericardium surrounds the roots of the heart’s major blood vessels. Ligaments attach this layer to their spinal column, diaphragm, and other parts of the body. The inner layer of the pericardium is attached to the heart muscle. A coating of fluid separates the two layers of membrane, letting the heart move as it beats, yet still be attached to the body.
Pericarditis is inflammation of the pericardium. When Pericarditis occurs the amount of fluid between the two layers of the pericardium increases. This increased fluid presses on the heart and restricts its pumping action.
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Monday, May 19th, 2008 |
Mitral valve prolapse (MVP) is still amongst the more common heart diseases; although it remains something of a puzzle. Now although MVP affects around two percent of the population, the cause is still unknown and has scientist wanting to know what does cause it. MVP often occurs in people who have no other heart problems, and the condition may be inherited.
The mitral valve is located in the heart between the upper-left chamber (the left atrium) and the lower-left chamber (the left ventricle). The mitral valve consists of two flaps called leaflets.
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Sunday, May 18th, 2008 |
The heart is the center of the body’s cardiovascular system. Throughout the body’s blood vessels, the heart pumps blood to all of the body’s cells. The blood carries oxygen, which the cells need. Heart disease is a group of medical problems that occur when the heart and blood vessels aren’t working the way they should.
How Do You Get Heart Disease?
Heart disease is not contagious so it cannot be caught like the common cold or the everyday flu. There are certain things that can increase a person’s chances of getting cardiovascular disease, also known as Heart disease. These are commonly known as risk factors.
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Saturday, May 17th, 2008 |
This is a type of heart surgery. It’s sometimes called CABG (”cabbage”). The surgery reroutes, or “bypasses,” blood around clogged arteries to improve blood flow and oxygen to the heart.
The arteries that bring blood to the heart muscle (coronary arteries) can become clogged by plaque (a buildup of fat, cholesterol plus other substances). This can then slow or stop blood flow through the heart’s blood vessels, leading to chest pain or a heart attack. Increasing blood flow to the heart muscle can relieve chest pain and also reduce the risk of heart attack.
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Friday, May 16th, 2008 |
Angina is a symptom of Coronary Artery Disease (CAD), the most common type of heart disease. This happens when the plaque builds up in the coronary arteries. This build up of plaque is called atherosclerosis. As the plaque builds up, the coronary arteries become narrower and stiff. Blood flow to the heart is then reduced. This decreases the oxygen supply to the heart muscle.
Angina is chest pain or discomfort that occurs when your heart muscle does not get enough blood to it. It may feel like pressure or a squeezing pain in your chest. The pain may also occur in your shoulders, arms, neck, jaw, or back. It can even feel like indigestion.
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Thursday, May 15th, 2008 |
Myocardial infarction (MI) means that part of the heart muscle suddenly loses its blood supply. Without immediate treatment, this can lead to damage to the affected part of the heart. An MI is often called a heart attack or a coronary thrombosis.
The heart pumps blood into arteries (blood vessels) which take the blood to every part of the body. The heart muscle, like all muscles, always needs a good blood supply. The coronary arteries take blood to the heart muscle. The main coronary arteries branch off from the aorta. (The aorta. is the large artery that takes oxygen-rich blood from the heart chambers to the body.) The main coronary arteries divide into smaller branches then take blood to all parts of the heart muscle.
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Wednesday, May 14th, 2008 |
The most common cause of a Myocardial Infarction (MI) is a blood clot known as thrombosis. This forms inside a coronary artery, or one of its branches. This blocks the blood flow to a part of the heart.
Blood clots do not usually form in normal arteries. However, a clot may form if there is some atheroma within the lining of the artery. An Atheroma is similar to fatty patches or ‘plaques’ that develop, inside the lining of arteries. Plaques of atheroma may gradually form over a number of years, in one or more places within the coronary arteries. Each plaque has an outer firm shell with a soft inner fatty core.
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Tuesday, May 13th, 2008 |
Mitral valve prolapse (MVP) is among the most common heart conditions; however it remains something of a puzzle. Although MVP affects about two percent of the population, the cause is unknown. MVP often occurs in people who have no other heart problems, and the condition may be inherited.
The mitral valve is located in the heart between the upper-left chamber (the left atrium) and the lower-left chamber (the left ventricle). The mitral valve consists of two flaps called leaflets.
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Monday, May 12th, 2008 |
Angina is caused by reduced blood flow to an area of the heart. This is most often due to Coronary Artery Disease. Sometimes, other types of heart disease or uncontrolled high blood pressure can cause angina.
In CAD, the coronary arteries, that carry oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle, are narrowed, due to the buildup of the fatty deposits called plaque. This is known as artherscholorisis. Some plaque becomes hard and stable, leading to narrowed and hardened arteries. Other plaque is soft and likely to break open and cause blood clots.
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