Cardio Vascular Diseases
The heart is a muscular organ roughly the size of a closed fist. It sits in the chest, slightly to the left of center.
The heart, blood, and blood vessels combined are referred to as the circulatory system. An average human has approximately 5 liters (8 pints) of blood, which is constantly pumped throughout the body, by the heart.As the heart contracts, it pumps blood around the body. It carries deoxygenated blood to the lungs where it loads up with oxygen and unloads carbon dioxide, a waste product of metabolism.
The human heart beats 100,000 times a day.In the process, it pushes 5,000 gallons of blood through the body every 24 hours. It delivers oxygen- and nutrient-rich blood to the tissues and carries away waste.
The heart consists of four chambers:
Atria: The two upper chambers that receive blood.
Ventricles: The two lower chambers that discharge blood.
The left atria and left ventricle are separated from the right atria and right ventricle by a wall of muscle called the septum.
The wall of the heart consists of three layers of tissue:
Epicardium: A protective layer mostly made of connective tissue.
Myocardium: The muscles of the heart.
Endocardium: Which lines the inside of the heart and protects the valves and chambers.
These layers are in turn covered in a thin protective coating called the pericardium.
How the heart works
Depending on many factors, the heart contracts at different rates. It might beat around 60 times a minute while at rest, however, it can increase to 100 beats a minute or more. Physical activities such as exercise, emotions, fever, diseases, and some medications can influence the rateof the heart.
The left and right sides of the heart work in harmony. The right side of the heart receives deoxygenated blood and sends it to the lungs, while the left side of the heart receives blood from the lungs and pumps it to the rest of the body.
Each heartbeat can be split into two parts:
Diastole: the atria and ventricles relax and fill with blood.
Systole: The atria contract and pushes blood into the ventricles; then, as the atria start to relax, the ventricles contract and pumps blood out of the heart.
When blood is sent to the lungs through the pulmonary artery, it travels through tiny capillaries on the surface of the lung’s air sacs (alveoli). Oxygen travels into the capillaries, and carbon dioxide travels from the capillaries into the air sacs, where it is breathed out into the atmosphere.
The muscles of the heart need to receive oxygenated blood, as well. They are fed by the coronary arteries on the surface of the heart.Where blood passes near to the surface of the body, such as at the wrist or neck, it is possible to feel the rush of blood as it is pumped through the body by the heart (pulse).
What are cardiovascular diseases?
Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are disorders of the heart and blood vessels.
Most of these diseases can be prevented by addressing behavioral risks such as;
- Use of tobacco,
- Obesity and unhealthy diet,
- Physical inactivity and
- Harmful use of alcohol
People with cardiovascular disease or those that are at high cardiovascular risk due to the presence of Hypertension, Diabetes, or Hyperlipidemia,need early detection and management with appropriate use ofcounselling and medicines.
Cardio-vascular diseases may include:
- Coronary heart disease: Disease of the blood vessels supplying the heart muscle. Read More
- Cerebrovascular disease: Disease of the blood vessels supplying the brain. Read More
- Peripheral arterial disease: Disease of blood vessels supplying the arms and legs. Read More
- Rheumatic heart disease: Damage to the heart muscle and heart valves from rheumatic fever, caused by streptococcal bacteria. Read More
- Congenital heart disease: Malformations of heart structure existing at birth. Read More
- Deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism: Blood clots in the leg veins, which can dislodge and move to the heart and lungs. Read More
- Heart attacks and strokes are usually acute events and are mainly the result of blockages that prevents blood from flowing to the heart or brain. The highly common reason for this is a build-up of fatty deposits on the inner walls of the blood vessels that supply the heart or brain. Strokes can also be caused by bleeding from a blood vessel in the brain or from blood clots. The cause of heart attacks and strokes are usually the presence of a combination of risk factors, such as tobacco use, unhealthy diet and obesity, physical inactivity and harmful use of alcohol, hypertension, diabetes and hyperlipidemia.
Read More on Heart Attacks
Read More on Strokes
