This document provides an overview of heart anatomy, functions, and common heart conditions. It discusses coronary artery disease, including risk factors, symptoms of angina, and treatments like angioplasty and stents. Hypertension, heart failure, heart valve disease, atrial fibrillation, and heart attacks are also summarized. For each topic, the document outlines causes, symptoms, risk factors, and potential treatments.

1. A D V E N T U R E I N T O T H E
H E A R T
J A M E S S . A R N O L D I I

2. T H E H E A R T
O V E R V I E W
• Anatomy and Function
• Coronary Artery Disease
• Hypertension
• Congestive Heart Failure
• Heart Valve Disease
• Atrial Fibrillation
• Heart Attack

3. A N A T O M Y
H E A R T

4. F U N C T I O N
H E A R T

5. C O R O N A R Y A R T E R Y
D I S E A S E

6. C O R O N A R Y A R T E R Y D I S E A S E
• Also known as heart disease
• Number one killer in the United States
• Caused by plaque buildup in the arteries that blocks
blood flow
• Increased risk of heart attack and stroke
• Heart is starved of nutrients that it needs to pump
properly

7. C O R O N A R Y A R T E R Y D I S E A S E
D E V E L O P M E N T
• From a young age, cholesterol plaques build up
• Plaques release chemicals that make the inner walls of
the arteries sticky, causing other substances to stick
• Narrowed artery will develop new passageways, but
this may not be enough under stress
• Blood clot may completely block vessel, causing heart
attack

8. P L A Q U E
A C C U M U L A T I O N
C O R O N A R Y A R T E R Y D I S E A S E

9. C O R O N A R Y A R T E R Y D I S E A S E
I S C H E M I A
• Occurs when artery block cannot supply enough oxygen
for the heart’s needs
• Can be experienced during:
• Exercise
• Eating
• Excitement
• Exposure to cold

10. C O R O N A R Y A R T E R Y D I S E A S E
S Y M P T O M S - A N G I N A
• Chest pain
• Heaviness, aching, pressure, burning, numbness,
fullness or pain
• Can be easily mistaken for heart burn
• Felt in the chest, but may be left shoulder, arms, neck,
back or jaw

11. C O R O N A R Y A R T E R Y D I S E A S E
O T H E R S Y M P T O M S
• Shortness of breath
• Palpitations- heart “skips” a beat
• Faster heartbeat
• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Sweating

12. C O R O N A R Y A R T E R Y D I S E A S E
D E C R E A S I N G T H E R I S K
• Quit smoking
• Decrease cholesterol intake
• Low fat diet
• Decrease salt in food
• Controlling blood sugar if you have diabetes
• Maintain a healthy weight

13. C O R O N A R Y A R T E R Y D I S E A S E
T R E A T M E N T
• If lifestyle changes are not enough, medications may
be necessary to increase blood flow
• Surgery
• Balloon angioplasty
• Stent
• Coronary artery bypass

14. B A L L O O N A N G I O P L A S T Y
T R E A T M E N T

15. S T E N T P L A C E M E N T
T R E A T M E N T

16. C O R O N A R Y B Y P A S S
T R E A T M E N T

17. H Y P E R T E N S I O N

18. H Y P E R T E N S I O N
• Most common cardiovascular disease
• Force of blood, pushing against the artery walls
• Hypertension is the leading cause of stroke and a
major cause of heart attack
• Can be diagnosed by self or a healthcare professional

19. B L O O D P R E S S U R E
• First number is systolic: Pressure when the heart
beats and fills with blood
• Second number is diastolic: Pressure in-between
heart beats
• Natural for blood pressure to rise due to stress and
exercise
• For a person over 60, 150/90 or higher qualifies as
hypertension

20. H I G H B L O O D P R E S S U R E
• Forces the heart to work beyond capacity
• Injures blood vessels
• Damages the brain
• Damages the eyes
• Damages kidneys

21. R I S K F A C T O R S
H Y P E R T E N S I O N
• Family history
• African American heritage
• Age over 55
• Overweight
• Inactive lifestyle
• Increased alcohol intake
• Smoking
• High salt diet
• Long-term use of NSAIDS

22. D E C R E A S I N G Y O U R R I S K
H Y P E R T E N S I O N
• Maintain a healthy weight
• Exercise will decrease risk 20-50%
• Low salt diet
• Drink alcohol in moderation
• Decrease stress?
• Eat potassium- rich foods: Fruits, vegetables and dairy
• Eating fish as opposed to taking fish oil
• Consuming garlic

23. C O N G E S T I V E H E A R T
F A I L U R E

24. H E A R T F A I L U R E
• Inability of heart to meet the needs of body and tissues
• Heart is not able to pump blood hard enough to return
blood back to the heart
• Pressure increases in the veins and fluid can leak out
of the capillaries

25. E D E M A
H E A R T F A I L U R E

26. L E F T H E A R T F A I L U R E
• Left ventricle cannot pump blood to the body
• Blood flow backs up in the lungs
• Fluid accumulates in the lungs, causing shortness of
breath

27. R I G H T H E A R T F A I L U R E
• Right ventricle cannot pump blood into the lungs
• Fluid can build up in the veins that drains blood from
the body into the heart
• Fluid leaks into the tissues and organs

28. L E F T H E A R T F A I L U R E
C A U S E S
• Heart disease
• Heart valve disease either by stenosis or regurgitation
• Poorly controlled hypertension
• Myocarditis: Inflammation of the heart
• Heart rhythm abnormalities

29. R I G H T H E A R T F A I L U R E
C A U S E S
• Blood clot in the lungs
• Pulmonary hypertension
• COPD: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
• Narrowing of the valve that connects the right ventricle
to the pulmonary artery

30. H E A R T F A I L U R E
S Y M P T O M S
• Shortness of breath
• Fluid accumulation in the lungs
• Fluid accumulation in the feet and ankles: Edema
• Bloating, nausea and abdominal pain

31. H E A R T F A I L U R E
R I S K F A C T O R S
• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Diabetes
• Smoking
• Family history

32. H E A R T F A I L U R E
T R E A T M E N T
• Goal is to help the heart beat more efficiently
• Fluid and salt restricted diet
• Diuretics (water pills) may be prescribed
• Medications that decrease blood pressure may be
prescribed
• Weight loss and exercise programs

33. H E A R T V A L V E D I S E A S E

34. H E A R T V A L V E S
H O W D O T H E Y W O R K ?
• Located at the exit of each of your heart chambers
• Ensure a forward direction of blood with no back-
leakage

35. V A L V E C L O S U R E
B L O O D F L O W

36. H E A R T V A L V E D I S E A S E
S T E N O S I S
• Occurs when the valve doesn’t close due to fused or
stiff leaflets
• Narrowing can make the heart work harder to pump
blood
• Can lead to heart failure
• All four valves can develop stenosis

37. S T E N O S I S
H E A R T V A L V E D I S E A S E

38. H E A R T V A L V E D I S E A S E
R E G U R G I T A T I O N
• Occurs when the valve doesn't close tightly
• Some blood will leak backwards across the valve
• Heart has to beat harder to make up for the leak
• Can affect all four valves

39. R E G U R G I T A T I O N
H E A R T V A L V E D I S E A S E

40. H E A R T V A L V E D I S E A S E
S Y M P T O M S
• Shortness of breath: May occur when you are active or
laying in bed
• Weakness or dizziness
• Chest discomfort
• Palpitations: Heart “Skips” a beat
• Swelling in the ankles, feet or abdomen
• Rapid weight gain

41. H E A R T V A L V E D I S E A S E
T R E A T M E N T
• Protect the heart from damage from endocarditis
• Tell doctor or dentist if you have heart disease
• Call doctor if you have signs of infection
• Take care of teeth and gums to reduce infection risk
• Doctor may give antibiotics for dental procedures,
blood work or surgery

42. A T R I A L F I B R I L L A T I O N

43. A T R I A L F I B R I L L A T I O N
• Irregular and often rapid heart beat
• Heart’s two atria beat out of coordination with ventricles
• Increases the risk of heart attack and stroke
• Symptoms include shortness of breath, weakness and
heart palpitations

44. H E A R T A T T A C K
M Y O C A R D I A L I N F A R C T I O N

45. H E A R T A T T A C K
• Heart requires a supply of oxygen rich blood
• Coronary arteries supply the blood to nourish the heart
• Arteries can become narrowed and blood flow
decreases
• If a clot blocks the artery, the muscle is starved of
oxygen
• Death of heart muscle can occur

46. H E A R T A T T A C K
R E P A I R
• Heart muscle heals soon after attack and healing
continues for about 8 weeks
• Formation of scar tissue that does not contract
• Heart’s pumping ability is lessened by scar tissue

47. B L O C K A G E
H E A R T A T T A C K

48. H E A R T A T T A C K
S Y M P T O M S
• Discomfort, pressure, heaviness or pain in chest arm or
chest bone
• Discomfort radiating to the back, jaw, throat or arm
• Fullness, indigestion or choking feeling
• Sweating, nausea, vomiting or dizziness
• Extreme weakness and shortness of breath
• Rapid and irregular heartbeat

49. H E A R T A T T A C K
S I L E N T
• Some people can suffer a heart attack without any
symptoms
• Referred to as a silent heart attack
• Can occur in anybody, but is more common in those
with diabetes

50. H E A R T A T T A C K
H O W T O R E A C T
• Quick treatment to open the blocked artery is essential
to stop damage
• At first sign of symptoms, call 911
• Best time for treatment is within two hours of symptom
onset
• Chest discomfort of any kind should be taken seriously

51. H E A R T A T T A C K
C A R D I A C C A T H E T E R
• Test to check the function of the heart
• Long thin tube called a catheter is inserted, usually in
the groin, and threaded into the heart’s arteries
• Doctors can perform diagnostic tests and treatments
such as coronary angioplasty
• Relatively quick and low complications

52. P R O C E D U R E
C A R D I A C C A T H E T E R I Z A T I O N

53. A N G I O P L A S T Y
C A R D I A C C A T H E T E R I Z A T I O N

54. T H A N K Y O U !