Cardiovascular Disease
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Abstract
The “heart” is a vital muscle organ with autonomous and rhythmical contractions that impels blood through the body’s extensive blood vessel network. The heart comprises the myocardium and the endocardium. The “heart cavity” is structured “two ventricles” and “two atria,” detached by cardiac valves regulating blood passage. The pericardium prevents over expanding and anchors the heart within the thorax. Besides, it attaches to the “diaphragm” and “inner surface of the sternum.” Cardiovascular disease results mainly from atherosclerosis and the amplified risk of blood clots, and the damage to arteries. However, the precise cause is unknown though several aspects contribute to the increased risk of acquiring it, including hypertension, smoking, high cholesterol, diabetes, lack of regular exercise, obesity or overweight, history of heart disease in the family. The majority of prevention measures for cardiovascular health are habitual. For instance, stop smoking, the consumption of a balanced diet, and regular exercise. Medical prescriptions aid in managing blood cholesterol, preventing blood clots, and controlling blood pressure. Medical surgery is recommended for specific heart disease and the damage extent. The symptoms of heart disease include chest pain, heart attack, heart failure, a drooping face or eye, immobile arms or legs, and slurred or complete loss of speech, the cramping or dull leg pain, loss of leg and feet hair, and persistent ulcers on the legs and feet. Aortic diseases have no symptoms but can cause the aorta to burst and initiate life-threatening bleeding.
Keywords: Heart, Blood Vessel, Symptoms, Cardiovascular disease, Blood
Cardiovascular Diseases
Cardiovascular diseases remain to be the major cause of demise globally. According to the WHO, in 2016, over seventeen million persons died from cardiovascular diseases (World Health Organization, 2017). The premature death percentage from CVDs varies from four percent in developed nations to forty-two in low-income states. Heart disease is leading demise cause among Asians, with twenty and thirty-six percent of Asians and Native Hawaiians diagnosed with hypertension correspondingly (NIH, 2020). Cardiovascular diseases are significantly preventable. Henceforth, the paper addresses the physiology and anatomy of the heart and the causes, symptoms, and prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases.
“Discuss the Physiology and Anatomy of the Heart.”
The heart is a vital organ in the cardiovascular system. The heart is a muscle with autonomous and rhythmical contractions, working collaboratively with an extensive blood vessel network around the body (Nursing Times, 2020). The heart comprises the myocardium, a central well-developed layer of “cardiac muscle cells,” and the endocardium, which is the inner lining. The “heart cavity” is structured to two ventricles and two atria separated by cardiac valves responsible for regulating blood passage (Nursing Times, 2020). The pericardium shields the heart from over-expanding while at the same time anchoring it within the thorax. The components that constitute the pericardium includes the fibrous pericardium, the epicardium, and a serous fluid film between the serous and fibrous pericardium that enables them to glide smoothly alongside each other (Nursing Times, 2020).
Ventricles and Atria
Blood returning to the heart enters the atria, whereas that from the atria enters the ventricle through the “atrioventricular valves,” then the ventricles propel the blood to the entire body and the lungs. The “right atrium” (RA) and ventricle (RV) are alienated from the “left atrium” (LA) and ventricle (LV) by the septum (Nursing Times, 2020). The “superior and inferior vena cava” bring deoxygenated blood to the RA from the neck and head and the remaining body regions correspondingly. Then, the RV pumps the deoxygenated blood to “the lungs” for oxygenation via the “pulmonary trunk.” The LA receives the “oxygenated blood” from the “pulmonary veins” and propels blood to the LV, which pumps the oxygenated blood to the entire body via the aorta. Importantly, the LV has a thick wall and circular cavity that enable it to thrust blood to the entire body.
The Cardiac Valves
The cardiac valves allow for a one-direction blood flow system and are held in position by strong chordae tendinae attached by small papillary muscles to the heart’s inner walls. The tricuspid valve has three leaflets separates and allows for the movement of the deoxygenated blood from the RA to the RV. The “deoxygenated blood from the RV” passes through the pulmonary valve to the “lungs.” The “oxygenated blood from the lungs” is received in the LA. The mitral valve possessing two leaflets separates the LA from the LV. The “oxygenated blood” streams into the LV, pumped and conveyed to the entire body via the aorta (Nursing Times, 2020).
Coronary Circulation
The heart’s demand for the supply of the rich oxygenated blood is delivered through the left and right coronary arteries, situated on the epicardium, and infiltrate the myocardium with extensive branches. The left and right pulmonary arteries arise from the coronary ostia at the aorta’s base. The “left coronary artery” provisions the heart’s left side and splits to the “left circumflex artery” and “anterior descending artery.” The “right coronary artery” supplies the heart’s right side and rifts into the marginal artery, and the posterior descending artery (Nursing Times, 2020). The “coronary arteries” facilitate intermittent blood movement to the heart, mainly during “diastole,” as the “coronary arteries” entrance is opened at this instance of the “cardiac cycle.” The heart’s venous drainage system engages the coronary veins that align a similar course as the coronary arteries.
The Heart Rhythm and Conduction System
The cardiac muscle possesses the capacity to depolarize initiating muscle cells contraction. The sinoatrial node, found in the right atrium, is the natural pacemaker for the heart and sets the sinus rhythm that affects the myocardium, inducing cardiac contraction (Nursing Times, 2020). The cardiac impulses pass on to the atria that contract and transmits the impulse to the atrioventricular node, located within the interatrial septum that avails a conduction pathway amid the ventricles and atria. Due to the smaller fibers of the AVN, the atria have time to contract and pump blood into the ventricles before ventricular contractions occur. The impulse travels down to the “Bundle of His.”
Cardiac Cycle
The heart chambers, in a harmonized mode, transit between the atrial “systole” and diastole, and the ventricular diastole and systole, forming the complete cardiac cycle. In the cardiac cycle, the cardiac chamber pressure rises and falls, influencing valve closure, and opening. Equal blood volume is pumped per cardiac beat even though the heart’s left side pressure is around five times more than the right side (Nursing Times, 2020).
During the atrial systole and ventricular filling, the heart pressure is low, forcing the blood from circulation to fill both atria passively. Consequentially, the atrioventricular valves open, and “blood” enters the ventricles. The atria’s depolarization causes their contraction and pumping blood into the ventricles, forming the last ventricular diastole and the end-diastolic volume (EDV). The atria relax, and the electrical impulse transferred to the ventricles that undergo depolarization.
In ventricular systole, the atria relax while the ventricles contract is causing an increase in ventricular cavity pressure, compelling the “aortic and pulmonary valves” opening, and the “blood” pumped into the vessels. At this instance, the ventricles relax, causing the drop in ventricular pressure and a momentary backflow of blood within the pulmonary trunk and aorta, and the pulmonary and aortic valves close. The backflow causes a dicrotic notch. With the ventricles in “systole,” the “atria” enter “diastole” and fill again, preparing for the continued cardiac cycle.
Cardiovascular Diseases Causes
Cardiovascular diseases arise mainly due to atherosclerosis, the build-up of fat deposits within the arteries, the increased risk of blood clots, or the damage to arteries within organs, including the eyes, kidneys, brain, and heart. Nonetheless, their precise cause is not exact though several aspects can contribute to the increased risk of acquiring it. One risk factor is hypertension, which exposes one to an increased risk of damaged blood vessels. Notably, high blood pressure can be genetic or can develop due to dietary habits. Another factor is smoking, with exposure prospectively causing damages and narrowing the blood vessels, thereby increasing the threat of “cardiovascular disease” such as stroke. Besides, high cholesterol heightens the risks of experiencing cardiovascular disease. High cholesterol causes the constriction of blood vessels, particularly the artery, and the development of a blood clot. Dietary habits increase cholesterol levels, especially with the increased consumption of foods rich in saturated fats.
Furthermore, diabetes increases the possibility of suffering “cardiovascular disease” by raising blood sugar above normal levels, which can damage the blood vessels and make them narrow. More so, several individuals with type 2 diabetes are either obese or overweight, which are risk factors for cardiovascular heart disease (Virani et al., 2020). Physical inactivity leads to high blood pressure, becoming overweight, and high cholesterol amounts, which are all influencers of heart disease.
Moreover, becoming overweight increases the risk of developing “high blood pressure” and diabetes, which facilitate cardiovascular diseases (Virani et al., 2020). A BMI that is twenty-five and above enhances the possibility of heart disease. Importantly, a history of heart disease in one’s family raises prospects of CVDs and is considered for individuals whose male kinship is confirmed of CVDs before fifty-five years or sixty-five years for the mother or sister. Other risk factors for heart disease comprise; age, common among individuals above fifty years, and increases with age, gender; men are significantly at risk and excessive alcohol consumption (Virani et al., 2020).
“Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular Disease”
The majority of prevention measures for cardiovascular health are habitual, such as stopping smoking (CDC, 2020). With the assistance of one’s general practitioner, one can quit through prescribed medication. Importantly, the consumption of a balanced diet with low levels of saturated fats, salt, sugar, and plenty of whole grains, and fiber foods is recommended (Virani et al., 2020). Regular exercising, about thirty minutes daily, is endorsed for enhanced fitness. Further, exercising aids in preserving a healthy weight (CDC, 2020). Medically, prescriptions are engaged to lower blood cholesterol levels, prevent blood clots, and manage blood pressure. Medical surgery is recommended when medication is not sufficient and will depend on the heart disease type and the damage extent.
Symptoms of Heart Disease
The symptoms of heart disease can be categorized based on the four major types of cardiovascular disease. For “coronary heart disease,” the heart experiences an increased strain due to the blockage or reduced supply of oxygenated “blood” to the “heart muscle,” initiating chest aching, heart attack, or heart failure. Regarding stroke, the symptoms comprise a drooping face or eye, inability to smile, inability to lift an arm due to numbness or weakness, and slurred or complete loss of speech. The peripheral arterial disease symptoms include cramping or dull leg pain that worsens while walking and eases at rest, loss of leg and feet hair, weakness and numbness in the legs, and persistent ulcers on the legs and feet. The final major heart disease is the aortic disease with aortic aneurysm being the most common. Aortic diseases have no symptoms but can burst and initiate life-threatening bleeding.
A Graph Showing the Decrease of Cardiovascular Disease
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Vital Health Statistics System (Benjamin et al., 2020)
Altogether, in addressing the cardiovascular diseases necessitates for a stable and sustained mechanism, particularly on monitoring and surveillance, the prevention and minimizing of risk factors, and the enhanced health care and management by early recognition and timely treatment. Actions instituted should comprise implementing national goals, measuring outcomes, and advancing partnerships in health policies and strategies (World Health Organization, 2017). Ensuring the cardiovascular disease response is at the forefront guarantees the international effort in facilitating the development and safeguarding of heart health and human security.
References
Benjamin, E. et al. (2020). Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics—2017 Update. NCBI. Retrieved 27 May 2020, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5408160/.
CDC. (2020). Prevent Heart Disease | cdc.gov. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved 27 May 2020, from https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/prevention.htm.
Nursing Times. (2020). Cardiac system 1: anatomy and physiology | Nursing Times. Nursing Times. Retrieved 27 May 2020, from https://www.nursingtimes.net/clinical-archive/cardiovascular-clinical-archive/cardiac-system-1-anatomy-and-physiology-29-01-2018/.
Virani, S. et al. (2020). Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics—2019 Update: A Report from the American Heart Association. Circulation, 141(2). https://doi.org/10.1161/cir.0000000000000746
World Health Organization. (2017). Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). World Health Organization. Retrieved 27 May 2020, from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/cardiovascular-diseases-(CVD).
NIH. (2020). Cardiovascular Disease (CVDs). NIMHD. Retrieved 28 May 2020, from https://www.nimhd.nih.gov/programs/edu-training/language-access/health-information/cardiovascular-disease/.