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Cardiovascular System
network of organs and vessels through which blood flows as it carries oxygen and nutrients to all parts of the body
The Heart: A Mighty Machine
- four chambered pump
- contracts 100,000 times a day
- pumps the equivalent of 2,000 gallons of blood throughout the body
- beats about 2.5 billion times in a 70 year lifetime
- blood is collected in its upper chambers, the atria, from the rest of the body
- two lower chambers, the ventricles, pump the blood out again
Atherosclerosis
characterized by deposits of fatty substances, cholesterol, cellular waste products, calcium, and fibrin in the inner lining of term-13the artery
Hyperlipidemia
an abnormally high blood lipid level
Plaque
buildup of deposits in the arteries
Coronary Heart Disease
damage in the heart's major blood vessels
Myocardial Infarction (MI)/ Heart Attack
the blood supply to the heart is disrupted. Blockage of the coronary arteries
Coronary Thrombosis
this is caused by a blood clot in the coronary artery
Embolus
occurs when the blood clot is dislodged and moves through the circulatory system (free flowing clot)
Collateral Circulation
an alternative or collateral route of blood flow that develops when blockage of the heart is minor
Stoke
blood supply to the brain is interrupted
Thrombus
stationary blood clot
Aneurysm
most well-known and life-threatening of strokes, is a weakened blood vessel that may bulge under pressure and, in severe cases, burst
Hypertension
sustained elevated blood pressure
- for the average person 110/80 is a healthy blood pressure level, though these numbers depend on weight, age, physical condition, etc
- silent killer
Systolic Pressure
pressure applied to the walls of the arteries when the heart contracts, pumping blood to the rest of the body
Diastolic Pressure
pressure applied to the walls of the arteries during the heart's relaxation phase
High Blood Pressure
usually diagnosed when systolic pressure is 140 or above
Arrhythmias
irregularities in heart rhythm
Tachycardia
racing heartbeat in the absence of expertise or anxiety
Bradycardia
abnormally slow heartbeat
Fibrillation
sporadic heartbeat with a quivering pattern
Angina Pectoris
occurs when there is not enough oxygen to supply the heart muscle, resulting in chest pain or pressure
- nitroglycerin: drug used to relax (dilate) the veins
- beta blockers control potential over-activity of the heart muscle
Heart Failure
a damaged or overworked heart muscle is unable to keep blood circulating normally
Congenital Cardiovascular Defect
- present at birth
- may be cause by hereditary factors, by maternal disease such as rubella, maternal drug use, smoking after the first trimester, and folate deficiency during pregnancy
Rheumatic Heart Disease
is due to an untreated streptococcal infection leading to an autoimmune response, where the antibodies attack the heart as well as the bacteria
Techniques for Diagnosing Heart Disease
- Electrocardiogram (ECG)
- Angiography
- Position Emission Tomography (PET)
- Magnetic Resonance Tomography (MRI)
- Ultrafast Computed Tomography (CT)
- Cardiac Calcium Score