The main thing the heart does is pump blood.
And it's a pump that's got to pump 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Sometimes it has got to pump a lot of blood, (like when you're running). And then sometimes it's got to pump not too much blood (like when you're fast asleep). .
The heart pumps blood by squeezing blood in its two main pumping chambers, the right and left ventricles. The right ventricle pumps blood to the lungs, where the blood picks up lots of oxygen. And the left ventricle pumps blood to the rest of the body (including the heart itself), where that oxygen is used up. .
Common defects.
A PDA stands for "patent ductus arteriosus-. A PDA is an abnormal opening between the aorta and the pulmonary artery. This opening causes too much blood flow to the lungs, and gets the lungs all wet. Kids with a PDA can get winded pretty quickly, and babies with a large PDA may not grow normally.
An ASD stands for "atrial septal defect-. This is a hole in the heart, located between the left and right atriums. .
This type of "hole in the heart- can be readily closed by a special device that is placed to plug up the hole. Or a congenital heart surgeon can operate and close the hole directly.
A VSD stands for "ventricular septale defect-. This is a hole in the heart between the left and right ventricles. .
Some VSDs can be closed by plugging up the hole with a special device without an operation. However, most VSDs that need closing still need to be closed directly by a congenital heart surgeon. .
In transposition, the two great vessels are backwards in position. Soooo, the aorta is where the pulmonary artery should be, and the pulmonary artery is where the aorta should be. .
Transposition is repaired by "switching- the position of the two great vessels, so everything is where is should have been in the first place. .
American heart association.
Arrhythmias.
Arrhythmias, or disorders of the regular rhythmic beating of the heart, are common.
Each year thousands of people die from coronary heart disease. ... Experiencing chest pain and shortness of breath are two symptoms of heart disease. ... In our thoughts he was too young to have heart disease, but he proved us wrong. ... Heart disease is a silent killer. ... Taking care of your self will reduce heart disease. ...
About 600,000 people die of heart disease in the United States every year ("Heart Disease Facts", 2013). Coronary heart disease is the most common type of heart disease, killing more than 385,000 people annually ("Heart Disease Facts",2013). A huge amount of Americans, 715,000, have heart attacks in every year ("Heart Disease Facts, 2013). ... Public Health Problem High blood pressure, LDL cholesterol, and smoking are all key factors that lead to heart disease, and about half of the population in America have at least one of the three risk factors ("Heart Disease Facts", 2013). ... Most import...
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in america. ... A vegetarian diet has been used to treat and even reverse coronary heart disease. ... Healthy arteries are essential in the prevention of heart disease. ... According to the American Heart Association antioxidants are important in the prevention of heart disease and maintaining healthy heart function. ... Many people choose the vegetarian diet for the lower risk of heart disease. ...
Coronary Heart Disease Coronary heart disease (CHD) is a very common and often "silent killer" of hundreds of thousands of people per year. It is a disease that affects the coronary arteries, which run along the outside of the heart. ... The most common form of heart disease is caused by arteriosclerosis, generally known as coronary heart disease, hardening and/or thickening of the arteries. ... Most of the causes and risk factors that lead to coronary heart disease are those that can be avoided by making good personal lifestyle choices. ... Secondary prevention is available to patients w...
Congenital Heart Disease Congenital heart defects are heart problems present at birth. They happen when the heart does not develop normally before birth. ... Some of these conditions include congenital heart disease in the baby's mother or father, diabetes in the mother, or the mother's use of alcohol during pregnancy. ... In this case there is a whole in the septum of the heart. ... Congenital heart defects are the number one birth defect. ...
There are so many diseases and malfunctions of the heart. Some that are going to be concentrated on are congenital heart disease, congestive heart failure, and arrhythmias. The first, congenital heart disease (CHD), is the name given to any heart defect or malformation that is present at birth. ... This can result from several things such as: Narrowed arteries, past heart attack, high blood pressure, heart valve disease, primary disease of the heart muscle itself, heart defects present at birth, or infection of the heart valves and/or heart muscle itself. ... Having less stress in your life ca...
For decades, heart disease has been among one of the greatest contributors in mortality rate for Americans. ... Next, a secondary prevention method helps those already diagnosed with heart problems such as coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, and peripheral vascular disease. ... For example, smoking is the largest contributor for cardiovascular disease and particularly so for women. ... All these aspects of not smoking, exercising, and eating well are suggestions to help prevent heart problems, but of course they do not guarantee immunity from heart related diseases. ... For ...
Cardiovascular Disease Heart Attack A heart attack occurs because there is a blockage in the arteries that nourish the heart with oxygen-rich blood. ... In all forms of heart disease the blood supply to the muscle is inadequate. ... It increases the chances of all major forms of heart disease. Smoking is responsible for more deaths due to heart disease than due to cancer. Smoking is a major cause of coronary artery disease (atherosclerosis) - a disease of the arteries in the heart. ...
The Heart Description: Your heart is about the size of your fist. ... Where it will start the cycle over again. Diseases: In 1997 heart disease was the leading cause of death for Americans. Nearly 31% of all deaths were caused by heart diseases. • Coronary Heart Disease: It is the most common heart disease in the US today. ... Sometimes the heart will skip a beat, or it might be a continuous slow or fast heart rate. ...
