How the Heart Works ( courtecy;- medicinenet.com )
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The heart is the hardest working muscle in the body. The
average heart beats 100,000 times a day. Read more...
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Understanding How the
Heart Works
The heart is the hardest
working muscle in the body. The average heart beats 100,000 times a day, day
and night, to supply oxygen and nutrients throughout the body. Blood pumped by
the heart also shuttles waste products such as carbon dioxide to the lungs so
it can be eliminated from the body. Proper heart function is essential to
support life.
What is Heart Disease?
Coronary
artery disease (CAD), commonly known as heart disease, is a condition in which
cholesterol, calcium, and other fats accumulate in the arteries that supply
blood to the heart. This material hardens forming a plaque that blocks blood
flow to the heart. When a coronary artery narrows due to plaque buildup or some
other cause, the heart muscle is starved for oxygen and a person experiences chest
pain known as angina.
The Link Between Heart Disease and Heart Attack
Sometimes
a piece of a fatty plaque in a coronary artery breaks off or ruptures. When
this happens, a blood clot forms in the area in response to the injury. The
clot may block the flow of blood through the artery, causing a heart attack.
Sadly, some heart attacks lead to the heart stopping completely, a situation
known as sudden cardiac arrest. The heart may also start to beat in a very
dangerous rhythm called ventricular tachycardia, which is potentially fatal.
Heart Disease: The Number-One Killer
Heart
disease is the leading killer in the United States and affects an estimated 14
million adults. Heart disease is responsible for more deaths in the U.S. than
the 2nd through 7th leading causes of death combined.
What Are the Risk
Factors for Heart Disease?
Certain risk factors
increase the chances of developing heart disease. More common heart disease
risk factors include:
·
High cholesterol
·
Diabetes
·
Heart disease in a close
blood relative
·
Obesity
·
High blood pressure
·
Smoking
·
Peripheral artery
disease (PAD)
What Are Lifestyle Risk
Factors for Heart Disease?
Certain lifestyle
factors and choices increase the risk of heart disease including:
·
Eating a diet high in
fat
·
Being "type A"
(impatient, aggressive, and/or competitive)
·
Being physically
inactive
·
Experiencing emotional
distress or being "stressed out"
Sudden Cardiac Death - A Fatal Consequence of Heart Disease
Heart
disease symptoms differ from person to person. Those who experience chest pain
or shortness of breath have a chance to receive life-saving treatment in a
hospital. For others, unfortunately, sudden cardiac arrest and death are the
first symptoms of heart disease they experience.
What Are Common Symptoms
of Heart Disease?
Many people with heart
disease notice symptoms during physical exertion or exercise. The heart needs
more oxygen and nutrients during physical exertion, so people with heart
disease may notice symptoms when they are active. Symptoms of heart disease may
include:
·
Jaw pain
·
Chest pain
·
Back pain (typically
left-sided)
·
Shortness of breath
What Are Other Symptoms
of Heart Disease?
Symptoms of heart
disease may also include:
·
Nausea
·
Lightheadedness,
dizziness
·
Abdominal pain
·
Irregular heartbeat
·
Weakness (especially at
rest)
What Are the Heart Disease Symptoms in Women, Seniors, and People
with Diabetes?
Certain
groups of people with heart disease experience atypical symptoms. Many women,
people with diabetes, and elderly individuals do not experience pain as a
symptom of heart disease. People in those groups are more likely to report
fatigue or a general feeling of malaise as a symptom of heart disease.
What is an
Electrocardiogram (EKG)?
Electricity flows
through heart cells to stimulate contraction of the heart muscle. People who
have heart disease have hearts that do not conduct electricity normally. An
electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG) is a quick, painless, noninvasive test that
assesses the electrical behavior of the heart. An EKG is able to detect many
heart conditions including:
·
Current heart attack
·
Past history of heart
attack
·
Heart rhythm
disturbances
·
Blood electrolyte
abnormalities
·
Unstable angina
·
Congenital heart defects
·
Conditions involving
cardiac inflammation (pericarditis and myocarditis)
What is a Stress Test?
Symptoms
of heart disease are often present during physical exertion, because the heart
is stressed and doesn't receive sufficient oxygen and nutrients. A stress test
observes the behavior of the heart while the patient is walking or running on a
treadmill. The patient is hooked up to an EKG machine to detect the heart's
activity before, during, and after the stress test. The test is 60% to 70%
accurate in detecting blocked coronary arteries. Sometimes, a patient may be
too weak or deconditioned to perform a stress test. In that case, the doctor
can administer medications that simulate the heart activity during exercise.
The patient remains stationary. The doctor may also use nuclear imaging or
ultrasound to visualize the behavior of the heart
What is Echocardiography?
An
echocardiogram is an image of the heart that is created with sound waves. This
test can detect heart disease and observe the function of the heart. A normal,
healthy heart pumps 50% to 60% of the blood with each heartbeat into the body.
A weaker heart will pump less blood with each heartbeat. This is detectable
with an echocardiogram and may be a sign of heart disease.
Why Use Computerized Tomography Tests (CT scans)?
A
cardiac computerized tomography (CT) scan is a test that uses X-rays to obtain
detailed images of cardiac blood vessels. The test can detect narrowing of
blood vessels and is useful in showing the absence of heart disease.
What Makes Coronary Angiography a Superior Test Compared to the
Others?
A
coronary angiogram is a test that provides sophisticated X-ray images of the
heart. During the test, doctors advance a catheter into the heart after it is
inserted into a vein in the groin. A substance called contrast is injected into
the coronary arteries so that they can be imaged with X-rays. These X-ray
images show the location and severity of blockages in coronary arteries.
There is No Single Treatment Method for Heart Disease
Heart
disease treatment differs from person to person. There is no such thing as one
uniform treatment that works for everyone who has heart disease. Most heart
disease patients are treated with a combination of diet, exercise, and other
lifestyle changes in addition to medication.
What are Some Common
Medications Used to Treat Heart Disease?
A variety of medications
may be used to treat heart disease. Medication options include:
·
Angiotensin-converting
enzyme (ACE) inhibitors decrease
strain on the heart by opening blood vessels.
·
Beta
blockers reduce strain on
the heart by decreasing heart rate and blood pressure.
·
Calcium
channel blockers (CCBs) increase
the efficiency of the heart and decrease heart rate.
·
Nitroglycerin opens arteries in the heart allowing for
increased blood flow.
·
Statins alter blood lipids (fats in the blood that
make up cholesterol) and decrease the risk of plaque buildup in the arteries.
What Are Some of the
Procedures Performed to Treat Heart Disease?
In addition to lifestyle
changes and medications, several procedures may be used to treat heart disease
including:
·
Coronary
(balloon) angioplasty is a procedure in
which a balloon-tipped catheter is advanced to the site of the blockage and
expanded to open the clogged artery. This procedure improves blood flow.
·
A
stent is a small
metallic tube that is placed during coronary balloon angioplasty to keep a
newly-opened coronary artery open.
The Key to Preventing Heart Disease is Through a Healthy
Lifestyle, Starting with a Healthy Diet.
Some
heart disease risk factors, such as genetics, cannot be controlled. However,
many other heart disease risk factors can be modified. Eating heart-healthy
foods can reduce the risk of heart disease. Heart-healthy foods include fruits,
and vegetables. Cholesterol-lowering foods such as beans, soy, chickpeas,
garlic, avocados, and olive oil are beneficial. Boost levels of HDL
"good" cholesterol by eating nuts. Walnuts, pecans, and almonds are
good choices, but limit your serving to a small handful as nuts are high in
calories. It's a good idea to eat fish and seafood a few times a week to boost
intake of heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Avoid sugary foods as they promote
heart disease and other chronic conditions.
Lifestyle Changes: Using Alcohol in Moderation and Quitting
Smoking
Controlling
your alcohol intake and avoiding smoking are two easy ways to reduce the risk
of heart disease. To optimize levels of HDL "good" cholesterol, women
should have no more than one alcoholic drink per day while men should have no
more than two alcoholic drinks per day. A person who smokes and then quits
reduces his or her risk of heart disease to the level of that of a nonsmoker 3
years after quitting.
Lower the Risk of Heart
Disease with Exercise, Aspirin, and by Controlling High Blood Pressure and
diabetes.
A few simple measures
can help reduce heart disease risk. Speak with your doctor before implementing
these measures to make sure they are safe for you.
·
Daily low-dose aspirin
therapy has been shown to reduce the risk of heart attack.
·
Exercise for at least 30
minutes 3 to 5 days a week to optimize blood lipids (lowers "bad" LDL
and raises "good" HDL cholesterol), lower blood pressure, and
strengthen the heart muscle.
·
If you have diabetes or
high blood pressure (or both), control them. High blood pressure and high blood
sugar are damaging to the heart.
·
Reviewed by Robert J. Bryg, MD on Wednesday,
July 27, 2016
·
Heart Disease:
Symptoms, Signs, and Causes
·
·
Sources: 
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This tool does not
provide medical advice.
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