The is a complicated structure with many areas for problems to arise. Some of the more common disorders involve the valves inside the heart, the heart muscle and the roadway through the body the blood travels along. These disorders can range from mild to life-threatening, and symptoms should be taken seriously as medication and surgery can be required. Good heart health involves diet, exercise, and regular check-ups with a physician.
Parts of the System
The cardiovascular system centers around the heart. The role of the heart is to pump blood into the lungs, where it picks up oxygen before traveling pack to the heart to be pumped out to the rest of the body. On its travel around the body, it travels away from the heart in arteries and arterioles before entering the capillaries, where oxygen exchange with the tissue takes place. Finally, it travels back to the heart in the venous system.
Valve Malfunctions
A common problem that can be mild to quite serious is a valve disorder. Valves are little doors between the chambers of the heart separating oxygenated blood from unoxygenated blood and controlling the stroke volume of each heart beat. When the valves malfunction, blood can back up in the chambers or even swirl around, failing to leave the heart at all. This is when a murmur happens.
Myopathy
The heart is a large muscle that squeezes or contracts on a regular rhythm to push blood through the circulatory system. To ensure all the tissues of the body have the oxygen they need, the heart must work hard to push the blood. It is aided in the pushing of the blood by the muscular and contracting walls of the arteries. If either the heart muscle or the arterial muscles are weak or insufficient, circulation is compromised. This condition in the heart is referred to as Cardiomyopathy.
Poor Perfusion
Poor perfusion is when the oxygenated blood that is pumped by the heart fails to reach all the tissues of the body. This can be caused by many factors from diabetes to electrolyte imbalance. People suffering this disorder often feel tired, and their extremities are cold. In persistent cases, limb amputation can even be required.
Heart Health
A healthy heart takes some work on the part of the individual. Diet and exercise are a great place to start. Avoiding fatty food that clog arteries, and getting plenty of vitamin rich foods is important. Regular exercise keeps the heart muscles toned and the veins and arteries flowing correctly. However, excessive exercise combined with poor or insufficient nutrition can have the opposite effect.
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