Cardiovascular Disease PDF

Cardiovascular Disease © Lisa Michalek Cardiovascular Disease A variety of diseases of the heart and blood vessels 41% of all deaths in the US 25% of women and 38% of men will die within one year of having a heart attack The Cardiovascular System The Heart – A m...

Cardiovascular Disease © Lisa Michalek Cardiovascular Disease A variety of diseases of the heart and blood vessels 41% of all deaths in the US 25% of women and 38% of men will die within one year of having a heart attack The Cardiovascular System The Heart – A muscular four chambered pump about the size of your fist – Contracts about 100,000 times per day – In 70 years, the heart beats about 2.5 billion times  The Cardiovascular System Arteries – Vessels that carry blood away from the heart to other parts of the body Capillaries – Tiny blood vessels that branch out from the arterioles – Their thin walls allow for the exchange of oxygen, carbon dioxide, nutrients, and waste products Veins – Vessels that carry blood back to the heart from the body Types of Cardiovascular Disease Atherosclerosis - fatty plaque buildup in the arteries Coronary Heart Disease – heart attack Angina Pectoris – chest pain Arrhythmias - Irregular Heart Beats Congestive Heart Failure Congenital and Rheumatic Heart Disease Stroke Atherosclerosis Thickening and hardening of the arteries Deposits of fatty substances, cholesterol, waste products, calcium, and clotting materials form plaque on the artery walls  Coronary Heart Disease Heart Attack – A blockage of normal blood supply to an area of the heart that causes permanent damage Angina Pectoris Severe chest pain occurring as a result of reduced oxygen flow to the heart Arrhythmias An irregularity in the heartbeat – Tachycardia Racing heart in the absence of exercise or anxiety – Bradycardia Abnormally slow heartbeat  Congestive Heart Failure When the heart muscle is damaged or overworked and lacks the strength to keep blood circulating normally through the body – Rheumatic fever, pneumonia, heart attack, radiation, chemotherapy and many other conditions can damage the heart muscle Congenital and Rheumatic Heart Disease Congenital Heart Disease is a defect that is present at birth Rheumatic Heart Disease is caused by an untreated strep infection (rheumatic fever) of the throat  Stroke When the brain is damaged because the blood supply to the brain is interrupted – Thrombus (blood clot) – Embolus (a wandering clot) – Aneurysm (a weakened blood vessel that bulges and may burst)  Stroke Minor strokes may cause temporary dizziness or slight weakness or numbness More serious strokes may cause speech impairments, memory problems, and loss of motor control Some strokes that affect parts of the brain that regulate heart and lung function can kill a person in minutes  Reducing Cardiovascular Disease Risks Avoid tobacco Cut back on fats and cholesterol Monitor your cholesterol levels Reduce your intake of saturated fats Lose weight Increase the amount of fiber you eat Exercise Control your blood pressure Manage stress  Diagnosing Heart Disease Electrocardiogram (ECG) – A record of the electrical activity of the heart measured during a stress test Angiography – A technique used to examine blockages in the heart arteries PET scan – Used to measure heart activity by producing a three-dimensional image of the heart and arteries Angioplasty A technique where a catheter with a balloon at the tip is inserted into a clogged artery The balloon is inflated to flatten out the fatty deposits against the artery walls This allows the blood to flow more freely Bypass Surgery A surgery where a blood vessel is implanted to bypass a clogged coronary artery