Overview of Cardiovascular System

Overview of Cardiovascular System

• Comprises the heart, blood vessels, and blood.
• Responsible for transporting nutrients, oxygen, hormones, and waste products.

Heart Anatomy

• Chambers:
  • 4 chambers: Right atrium, Right ventricle, Left atrium, Left ventricle.
• Valves:
  • Atrioventricular valves: Tricuspid (right side), Mitral (left side).
  • Semilunar valves: Pulmonary (right side), Aortic (left side).

Blood Vessels

• Arteries: Carry oxygenated blood away from the heart (except pulmonary arteries).
• Veins: Return deoxygenated blood to the heart (except pulmonary veins).
• Capillaries: Microscopic vessels where gas and nutrient exchange occurs.

Blood Circulation

• Systemic Circulation: Blood flows from the heart to the body and back.
• Pulmonary Circulation: Blood flows from the heart to the lungs and back.

Cardiac Cycle

• Systole: Heart muscles contract, pumping blood out.
• Diastole: Heart muscles relax, allowing chambers to fill with blood.

Electrical Conduction System

• Sinoatrial (SA) Node: Natural pacemaker; initiates heartbeat.
• Atrioventricular (AV) Node: Relays electrical impulses from atria to ventricles.
• Bundle of His and Purkinje Fibers: Distributes impulses throughout the ventricles.

Common Cardiovascular Diseases

• Hypertension: High blood pressure; risk factor for heart disease.
• Coronary Artery Disease (CAD): Narrowing of coronary arteries; leads to angina or heart attack.
• Heart Failure: Heart's inability to pump enough blood effectively.
• Arrhythmias: Irregular heartbeats; can lead to complications.
• Stroke: Blood supply to the brain is interrupted.

Risk Factors

• Non-modifiable: Age, genetics, gender.
• Modifiable: Diet, physical inactivity, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, stress.

Prevention and Management

• Lifestyle Changes: Healthy diet, regular exercise, weight management.
• Medications: Antihypertensives, statins, anticoagulants.
• Monitoring: Regular check-ups, blood pressure, cholesterol levels.

Diagnostic Tests

• Electrocardiogram (ECG): Records electrical activity of the heart.
• Echocardiogram: Ultrasound to view heart structure/function.
• Stress Testing: Assesses heart function under physical stress.
• Angiography: Imaging to see blood vessels and diagnose blockages.

Treatment Options

• Medications: To manage symptoms and risk factors.
• Surgery: Bypass surgery, valve repair/replacement, angioplasty.
• Lifestyle Modifications: Essential for long-term management.

Overview of Cardiovascular System

• Heart, blood vessels, and blood work together to transport essential substances like nutrients and oxygen, as well as to remove waste products.

Heart Anatomy

• Comprises four chambers: Right atrium, right ventricle, left atrium, left ventricle.
• Atrioventricular valves include:
  • Tricuspid valve on the right side.
  • Mitral valve on the left side.
• Semilunar valves include:
  • Pulmonary valve on the right side.
  • Aortic valve on the left side.

Blood Vessels

• Arteries are responsible for carrying oxygenated blood away from the heart, with the exception of pulmonary arteries.
• Veins return deoxygenated blood to the heart, excluding pulmonary veins which carry oxygenated blood.
• Capillaries enable gas and nutrient exchange at a microscopic level.

Blood Circulation

• Systemic circulation allows blood to flow from the heart to the rest of the body and back.
• Pulmonary circulation transports blood from the heart to the lungs for oxygenation and back.

Cardiac Cycle

• Systole refers to the contraction phase of the heart, where blood is pumped out.
• Diastole is the relaxation phase, which allows the heart chambers to fill with blood.

Electrical Conduction System

• Sinoatrial (SA) Node serves as the heart's natural pacemaker, starting the heartbeat.
• Atrioventricular (AV) Node transmits electrical impulses from the atria to the ventricles.
• Bundle of His and Purkinje fibers ensure the effective distribution of impulses throughout the ventricles.

Common Cardiovascular Diseases

• Hypertension increases the risk of heart disease through elevated blood pressure.
• Coronary artery disease (CAD) involves the narrowing of coronary arteries, potentially causing angina or heart attacks.
• Heart failure manifests when the heart cannot pump sufficient blood effectively.
• Arrhythmias result in irregular heartbeats, which can lead to various complications.
• A stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain is disrupted.

Risk Factors

• Non-modifiable factors include age, genetics, and gender.
• Modifiable factors encompass diet, physical inactivity, smoking, excessive alcohol use, and stress.

Prevention and Management

• Lifestyle interventions such as a healthy diet, regular exercise, and weight management play a critical role.
• Medications like antihypertensives, statins, and anticoagulants help manage conditions.
• Continuous monitoring through regular check-ups helps track blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

Diagnostic Tests

• Electrocardiogram (ECG) evaluates the heart's electrical activity.
• Echocardiogram uses ultrasound to visualize heart structure and function.
• Stress testing measures heart performance during physical exertion.
• Angiography provides imaging to diagnose blood vessel blockages.

Treatment Options

• Medications are used to alleviate symptoms and reduce risk factors associated with cardiovascular diseases.
• Surgical interventions can include bypass surgery, valve repair or replacement, and angioplasty.
• Lifestyle modifications are crucial for long-term cardiovascular health management.