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Cardiovascular System: Diseases & Conditions Cheat Sheet (DRAFT) by

Cardiovascular System: Diseases & Conditions of the Heart - 5 Most common heart problems - Other heart problems & diseases as well as solutions -Aerobic exercise -Effects of ageing -etc

This is a draft cheat sheet. It is a work in progress and is not finished yet.

5 MOST COMMON HEART PROBLEMS

1. Coronary Artery Disease: blocks flow to myocardium
2. Arrhyt­hmia: pacemaker isn't working properly
3. Cardio­myo­pathy: heart is too big
4. Heart Infect­ions: scarlet fever
5. Structural Defects: hole in the heart

CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE

Blood flow through coronary arteries that supply the heart is limited due the build up of plaque
Athero­scl­erosis: the build up of plaque

ATHERO­SCL­EROSIS

- A narrowing of the ARTERIES in any party of the body due to an excessive accumu­lation of plaque
- starts with damage to the ENDOTH­ELIUM
Causes:
- Hypert­ension: high blood pressure
- High Choles­terol: high lipids (fat)
- High Blood Sugar: stores excess fat
- Smoking: vasoco­nst­riction (the narrowing of blood vessels) which increases blood pressure

CARDIO­MYO­PATHY

DESCRI­PTION: diseases of the heart MUSCLE that make it harder to pump blood
- Walls around the left ventricle could either a. enlarge & thicken or b. enlarge & weaken
CAUSES: infection or alcoholism
  

MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION / HEART ATTACK

DESCRI­PTION: a section of heart muscle is dying
CAUSES: blood flow is blocked to an area of the heart muscle
SIGNS: pain in jaw, pain in left arm, dizziness, shortness of breath, & cold sweats

STROKE

DESCRI­PTION: brain cells are starting to die
CAUSES: blood flow to an area of the brain is blocked
2 TYPES:
Ischemic Stroke:
- occurs when blood flow is BLOCKED by a blood clot
Hemorr­hagic Stroke:
- occurs when a vessel BREAKS and there is bleeding in/on the brain (could cause pressure on brain)

HEART INFECTIONS

CAUSE: infections by bacteria or viruses
AFFECT(S): the heart muscle or valves
EXAMPLE: ENDOCA­RDITIS is an infection of the lining of the heart chambers and/or valves

ATRIAL SEPTAL DEFECT (ASD)

DESCRI­PTION: a hole in the wall between the RIGHT & LEFT ATRIA
AFFECT(S): allows mixing of oxygenated & deoxyg­enated blood
ALL FETUSES HAVE THIS OPENING
- usually closes after birth
- can be surgically repaired by surgery if it doesn't close by itself

VALVE DISEASE & HEART MURMURS

HEART VALVE DISEASE
HEART MURMURS
DESCRI­PTION: the valve does not close properly
DESCRI­PTION: unusual heart sound produced by abnormal blood flow
CAUSE: the heart is infected or aging
CAUSES: calcium deposits or thickening of the aortic or mitral valve due to ageing
the MOST COMMON type of murmur involves the MITRAL VALVE
  

ARTIFICIAL PACEMAKERS

PURPOSE: corrects heart arrhyt­hmias
HOW IT WORKS: Inserted under the skin of chest & send out SMALL electric impulses to regulate the heartbeat
Arrythmia: a problem with the rate or rhythem of the heart

VARICOSE VEINS

DESCRI­PTION: weakened VALVES in large veins (usually lower legs)
varicose veins are enlarged, twisted, & bulging

EMBRYONIC HEART

4TH WEEK: the heart begins pumping blood
7TH WEEK: the heart is FULLY formed into a 4-cham­bered structure