CHF is a chronic, long-term condition although at times it can develop quite suddenly. When a heart’s muscles can no longer efficiently pump blood out of the heart wall, systolic heart failure occurs, and when blood is no longer able to fill the heart’s cavity due to stiffened heart muscles, diastolic heart failure follows. When the heart is no longer able to eject blood outside of the heart wall, blood is prevented from entering as well. This, in turn, will lead to fluid build-up in the lungs, liver, GI (gastrointestinal) tract, arms, and legs, and as a result, a lack of oxygen and nutrition to these organs and body parts ensues. Although CHF can develop on its own, other heart problems or conditions such as Congenital Heart Disease, hearts attacks, and arrhythmias (abnormal heart beats) can lead to CHF (Hunt).
Coarctation of the Aorta, a Congenital Aortic Disease Pang Vang Rasmussen College Coarctation of the aorta (COA) is a congenital heart defect that causes narrowing in the aortic valve, resulting in disruption of blood flow through the arch. COA is a defect which affects the cardiovascular system and may impair part or all of the heart. The aorta is the main blood vessel in which it carries oxygen rich blood from the left ventricle of the heart to the organs within the rest of the body. Severity of aortic narrowing differs from patient to patient and occurs in approximately 1 of 2500 live births. Studies show that aortic coarctation is more prevalent in males.
Cardiovascular system: The heart pumps the blood around the whole body in order to carry oxygen in which the individual will be able to breather. Older adults may develop narrow arteries and other blood vessels; this is because many fats have increased inside the body in which increases the cholesterol levels and so the walls of the arteries are being narrowed, this may gradually become blocked if not taken care of. This is known as âatherosclerosisâ, it defines âatheroâ which conveys the fatty/unhealthy deposits, and âsclerosisâ conveys the arteries becoming much hardened. This process may consequently end up in an increase of the blood pressure which puts the individual at risk of stroke; this is when the blood is unable to reach the brain and may cause a heart attack. The heart is used the hardest in this life stage as the arteries harden the heart needs to pump harder and faster to ensure that the individual is still alive, this however, is considered a big risk for the individual as the blood pressure may increase to such that the individual may have a heart attack.
If a blood clot in a narrowed artery blocks the flow of blood to the part of the heart muscle, a heart attack occurs. The section of heart muscle that does not receive the blood begins to die. This condition is called myocardial infarction, or M.I. As a result of M.I., heart action can be seriously impaired. A heart attack may be a sudden episode.
CAD is usually due to atherosclerosis, which is a formation of plaque on the artery walls, causing them to narrow. Plaque is made up of cholesterol and fatty deposits that collect over time in the wall of a coronary artery. As the plaque narrows the lumen of the coronary artery, it makes it difficult for adequate quantities of blood to flow to the heart. Initially, the reduction of blood flow may not produce any symptoms. However, a gradual reduction of blood flow can cause angina and shortness of breath.
In atrial fibrillation, a problem with the heart's electrical system the atria to quiver, or fibrillate. The quivering upsets the normal rhythm between the atria and the lower parts (ventricles) of the heart. The lower parts may beat fast and without a regular rhythm. Atrial fibrillation is dangerous because it greatly increases the risk of stroke. If the heart doesn't beat strongly, blood can collect, or pool, in the atria.
Provide a brief explanation based on how the heart functions. Overtime when the fatty residues start building up on the arterial wall or this is called hardening of the arteries, this leaves little movement for the blood to flow through the arteries and to the heart. This blood is important because it contains oxygen and nutrients that are to go to the body’s tissues. If atherosclerosis begins in a coronary artery, blood is unable to flow correctly or not at all to the heart. This can cause the heart to stop pumping which then a person will endure a heart attack.
Esophageal Achalasia: The Rare Swallowing Disease Virginia N. Salazar American Military University Abstract Esophageal achalasia affects one in every one hundred thousand Americans. The disease is a result of weakened muscles of the lower esophageal sphincter causing it to become an obstruction for passing food. Achalasia is one of several subtypes of esophageal motility disorders. In the long term, achalasia can lead to esophageal cancer in patients who suffer from it or are left untreated. Symptoms of achalasia often include regurgitation, difficulty or pain when swallowing, and spasm-like chest pain.
DEFINITION/ETIOLOGY: The most common cause of heart failure is coronary artery disease (CAD), which is a narrowing of the small blood vessels that supply blood and oxygen to the heart. Hear failure can also occur when an infection weakens the heart muscles, this disorder is called cardiomyopathy. Other heart problems that may cause heart failure include: Congenital heart disease, Heart attack, heart valve disease, and some types of abnormal heart rhythms. Diseases such as emphysema, severe anemia, hyperthyroidism, or hypothyroidism may also cause or contribute to heart failure Systolic heart failure means that your heart muscle cannot pump, or eject the blood out of the heart very well. Diastolic heart failure means that your hearts pumping chamber does not fill up with blood.
Early symptom of CHF is fatigue, causing a strain in an individual’s ability to exercise or do other activities. Other symptoms vary by the specific type of CHF: left side heart failure: fatigue shortness of breath, difficulty breathing at night, asthma like wheezing or dry hacking like cough that worsens when lying down, but improves when sitting or standing up. Right side heart failure: fatigue, lower extremity edema, sacral or scrotal edema, right upper quadrant pain, anorexia and nausea can occur with gastrointestinal venous congestion. Biventricular failure (both left and right ventricles fail): signs and symptoms of both right and left failure, paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea (PND) occurs as peripheral edema is reabsorbed into circulation when in bed and feet are elevated, which leads to fluid overload. Hepatomegaly and splenomegaly, that results from abdominal engorgement or congestion and decreased digestion and absorption of nutrients (Andy Avins,