Understanding the Cardiovascular System

1. Understanding the Cardiovascular System

2. Sub-Components of the Cardio-respiratory System • Heart • Blood • Blood Vessels • Lungs

3. Function of Cardio-Respiratory Systems • Primarily to: • Transport and exchange gases(O2 and CO2) • Deliver nutrients to cells

4. Anatomical Considerations of the Heart • Size of a closed fist • Located in the mediastium of the chest cavity

5. Basics Of Heart Anatomy • It is a four chambered structure • Two upper chambers: atria or atrium • Two lower chambers: ventricles • It is divided into right and left sides by muscular tissue known as the septum

6. Basics Of Heart Anatomy #2 • By being divided into right and left sides, the heart is able to serve two systems: • Pulmonary • Systemic

7. Blood Flow in the Heart www.medicine.osu.edu/exam

8. The Circulatory System

9. Exchange of Gasses • Oxygen rich air is delivered to alveoli with inspiration • Oxygen diffuses into the blood • The body does not use all of the inhaled oxygen

10. Hypertension/High Blood Pressure • Blood Pressure: • The driving force that moves blood throughout the body. • The pressure exerted by the blood on the walls of the arteries.

11. Normal Blood Pressure • 120/80 • 120 is the systolic reading • 80 is the diastolic reading • NEVER 80/120

12. Systolic Blood Pressure 120/80 • The highest pressure or value • Occurs during heart contraction phase (ventricular contraction)

13. Diastolic Blood Pressure 120/80 • The lowest pressure or value • Occurs during heart relaxation phase (resting or refilling stage of the contraction)

14. Cardiovascular Disease • 60-70 million Americans have one or more forms of CVD

15. Cardiovascular Disease • 1 million deaths each year • 275 billion dollars

16. Cardiovascular Disease • Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the number one cause of death in the United States.

17. Cardiovascular Disease • 2600 Americans die each day from CVD • 1 death every 33 seconds • Claims more lives each year than the next 7 causes of death combined (AHA ’99)

18. Forms of Cardiovascular Disease • Coronary artery disease (CAD or CVD) • Hypertension (high blood pressure) • Cerebral vascular accidents (strokes) • Angina pectoris • Peripheral vascular disease

19. Forms of CVD #2 • Valve disease • Rheumatic heart disease • Congenital heart disease • Congestive heart failure

20. Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) • Primary form of heart disease • A disease involving waxy plaque build-up in the arteries • Atherosclerosis

21. Cardiovascular Disease • Has anyone in your family had bypass surgery? • Blocked arteries? • Plaque build-up • Related to high cholesterol levels sustained over time • Occurs, primarily, in vessels closest to the heart

22. Surgical Procedures • Plaque rupture • Bypass (7 yr.average) • Angioplasty • Roto Blade

23. CAD Post-Op Patient • What behavioral and dietary changes were suggested for the patient?

24. Can One Be FIT But Not Healthy? • Personal profile example • Run 3 miles daily • Lift weights • Stretching exercises • Smokes, stress, excessive alcohol, fatty foods, drugs, etc.

25. Jim Fixx • 36 years old, 215 pounds • 2 pack a day smoker • No regular exercise • Family history of heart disease • father had a heart attack at 35, died at 43 • Began to exercise at age 36 • Ran 60-80 miles per week • Was FIT but not HEALTHY

26. Coronary Risk Factors • Primary Risk Factors: Factors that have been definitively associated with or directly cause coronary artery disease. • Secondary Risk Factors: Factors believed to contribute to or advance the severity of atheroschlerosis and CAD.

27. Primary Risk Factors (Alterable) • Smoking • Hypertension (high blood pressure) • High serum cholesterol • Physical inactivity • Diabetes mellitus • Obesity • Family History?

28. Secondary Risk Factors • Stress • Age • Gender (male vs. female)

29. Arkansas Stats from the Center for Disease Control/Mortality Rates • Males #2 in deaths from CAD • Males #2 in deaths from lung cancer • Males and Females # 1 in deaths from stroke

30. Additional Ark. Stats • 1/3 of deaths in AR related to CVD (l998) • 90% of adults report no vigorous activity • 36% do not engage in any physical activity • Arkansans are gaining weight 3 times faster than the rest of the nation

31. Examining CAD Risk Factors (Primary followed by Secondary)

32. Smoking #1 • The single most important, preventable cause of illness and early death

33. Smoking #2 • 400,000 related deaths per year • >$50 billion • Cancer, heart disease, respiratory diseases (emphysema) • Cigarette smoking and passive smoke inhalation are highly related to CAD.

34. Smoking #3 • Smokers have a 70% greater level of coronary risk than nonsmokers. • Magnitude of risk is related to number of cigarettes smoked. • Pipe, cigar, pot • Personal economics of smoking

35. Secondary Smoke • 53,000 annual deaths • For each pack of cigarettes smoked, the non smoker, sharing the same air, will inhale the equivalent of 3 to 5 cigarettes.

36. Smokeless Tobacco • Chewing tobacco

37. Actions of Cigarette Smoke on the Body • Injures the inner lining of the arteries • Increases the risk of blood clotting • Increases the risk of myocardial infarction • Lowers HDL cholesterol

38. Hypertension (High Blood Pressure) • A silent killer • 140/90 : considered mild stage of hypertension • Which is more problematic? 140/80 or 130/95 • Potentially leads to stroke

39. Hypertension #2 • Related to stroke/aneurysms • Hypertension may be the result of another health problem

40. Factors Affecting Blood Pressure • Hypertensive medications • Time of day • Full bladder content • Body posture • Recent intake of caffeine • Nicotine • Alcohol • Recent strenuous activity

41. Impact of Hypertension • 25% or 50 million Americans are hypertensive • 67% are not treated • 1/2 are unaware of the complication

42. Factors Contributing To Hypertension • Age • Race • Sodium sensitivity • Chronic alcohol abuse • Oral contraceptives • Sedentary living

43. Lifestyle Interventions to Maintain or Lower Blood Pressure • Body weight reduction or maintenance • Smoking cessation

44. How To Lower Blood Pressure • Aerobic exercise • Reduce stress • Reduce cholesterol, sodium, high fat diet (saturated) • Medications

45. Hyperlipidema/High Serum Cholesterol • Definition of Cholesterol • A type of lipid (fat) found in animal tissues • This fat (Lipid) is insoluble in blood • It binds to proteins (lipoproteins) in order to be transported in the body • Plant sources have no cholesterol

46. What Foods Do I Eat That Contain Cholesterol and Saturated Fat? • Primarily, animal products and by-products • A few plants contain saturated fat but no cholesterol • Tropical oils (palm, coconut)

47. What Are Some Foods That Contain Tropical Oils? • Commercially baked products • Popcorn at the movie

48. What Happens When I Eat Saturated Fat and Cholesterol Containing (Dietary Cholesterol) Foods? • The body takes in the cholesterol • The body takes in the saturated fat and makes increased amounts of “bad” cholesterol (LDL) • Raises the body’s serum cholesterol level

49. What Is So Bad About Having High Cholesterol Levels?? • High levels lead to a waxy, plaque build-up in the arteries, especially those near the heart. • The result is Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)

50. Tell Me More About Plaque • Affects all of us • May begin as early as 10 years of age • May be genetic • Medications??