Cardiovascular System Disorders and Treatments

Systolic Pressure

Measures cardiac output; Represents the pressure in the arterial system at its highest during the contraction phase of the heart.

Diastolic Pressure

Measures peripheral resistance; Represents arterial pressure at its lowest, between heart contractions (relaxation phase).

Normal Blood Pressure

120/70 mmHg

Hypertension

High blood pressure.

Prehypertension

120-139 (systolic) / 80-89 (diastolic).

High Blood Pressure Stage 1

140-159 (systolic) / 90-99 (diastolic).

High Blood Pressure Stage 2

160 or Higher (systolic) / 100 or Higher (diastolic).

Hypertensive Crisis

Higher than 180 (systolic) / Higher than 110 (diastolic).

Brain Stroke

Reduced blood supply leading to rapid loss of brain function.

Vision Loss

Hypertensive Retinopathy (damage to blood vessels in the retina).

Blood Vessel Damage

Atherosclerosis (artery-narrowing process).

Kidney Failure

Damaged blood vessels impairing blood filtration.

Heart Attack

Increased workload on the heart leading to thickening of the heart muscle.

Bone Loss

Increased calcium in urine leading to osteoporosis.

Congestive Heart Failure

Ventricles unable to contract effectively, causing blood pooling in the heart.

Atherosclerosis

Disease characterized by cholesterol-containing plaque accumulation inside arterial walls.

Myocardial Infarction (MI)

Death of a portion of the heart muscle cells due to obstruction or blockage of a coronary artery.

Heart Murmur

Abnormal heart sound, described as whooshing, fluttering, or humming. Often indicative of a heart abnormality such as stenosis (narrowing) of a heart valve or an incompetent heart valve resulting in regurgitation (backflow).

Angioplasty

Reconstruction of a diseased coronary artery. A small balloon is inserted through the aorta and into a coronary artery. The balloon is inflated to flatten plaque mass and dilate the artery, improving blood flow.

Stents

Metal-mesh tubes that are stronger and permanent. Inserted into the vessel to prevent further blockage after angioplasty.

Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery (CABG)

A healthy vein (often from the leg) is removed and attached before and after the coronary obstruction, creating an alternate route for blood supply to the myocardium.

Varicose Veins

Swollen, twisted, and sometimes painful veins. Pooling of blood due to faulty valves.

LVAD

A mechanical pump that supports heart function in patients with weakened hearts

Blue Baby Operation

Surgical procedure to correct Tetralogy of Fallot. This pathology is also known as “blue baby” because a baby’s skin will look blue due to a lack of oxygen in the blood.