HOW THE HEART BEATS?

A heartbeat is a two part pumping action that takes about a second. As blood collects in the upper chambers (the right and left atria), the heart's natural pacemaker (the SA node), located at the top of the right atrium, sends out an electrical signal that causes the atria to contract. This contraction pushes blood through the tricuspid and mitral valves into the resting lower chambers (the right and left ventricles). This part of the two part pumping phase (the longer of the two).

The second part of the pumping phase begins when the ventricles are full of blood. The electrical signals from the SA node travel along a pathway of cells to the ventricles, causing them to contract. This is called systole. As the tricuspid and mitral valves shut tight to prevent a back flow of blood, the pulmonary and aortic valves are pushed open. While blood is pushed from the right ventricle into the lungs to pick up oxygen, oxygen-rich blood flows from the left ventricle to the heart and other parts of the body.

After blood moves into the pulmonary artery and the aorta, the ventricles relax, and the pulmonary and aortic valves close. The lower pressure in the ventricles causes the tricuspid and mitral valves to open, and the cycle begins again. This series of contractions is repeated over and over again, increasing during times of exertion and decreasing while you are at rest.

Your heart does not work alone, though. Your brain tracks the conditions around you, climate, stress, and your level of physical activity and adjusts your cardiovascular system to meet those needs.

The human heart is a muscle designed to remain strong and reliable for a hundred years or longer. By reducing your risk factors for cardiovascular disease, you may help your heart stay healthy longer.   

 

Heart Disease : Medical terms made easy

SVD - Single Vessel Disease

DVD - Double Vessel Disease

TVD - Triple Vessel Disease

Proximal - Nearer to the origin of the artery

Distal - A way from the origin of the artery

Significant Blockages - Blockage > 70%

Tight Lesion - Nearly 100% blockages

Sub Total Occlusion - Blockage 80-90%

Total Occlusion - 100% blockages

Names of Coronary Arteries

LAD - Left Anterior Descending

RCA - Right coronary artery

LCx - Left circumflex artery

OM3 branch - Obtuse Marginal Branch 3

D1 branch - Diagonal Branch 1

D2 branch - Diagonal Branch 2

CHD - Coronary Heart Disease

IHD - Ischaemic Heart Disease

PTCA - Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty (Ballooning)

CABG - Coronary Artery Bypass Graft

 

YOUR HEART MAY DEMAND MORE OXYGEN IF...

·         You're excited, or have a heart rhythm abnormality.

·         You have strong heart contractions due to exercise.

·         You have high blood pressure or heart valve problems.

·         You have an enlarged heart chamber due to any condition that causes heart failure.

·         Your heart muscle is thickened because of abnormalities, high blood pressure or valve problems.

 

Hope you liked this article!

To book an appointment with Dr. Bimal Chhajer regarding Heart related issues please visit SAAOL Chhatarpur.