The heart is generally
the size of a first it contains 4 chambers
·
2 atria (upper)
·
2 ventricles (lower)
Blood flows from the right atrium to the right
ventricle through a value called the tricuspid (3 cusps or flaps) valve. Similarly, the left atrium is divided from the
left ventricle by a septum. Blood flows
from the left atrium to the left ventricle via the mitral valve. The mitral valve has only 2 flaps.
The other 2 valves our heart process are:
·
1 pulmonary valve: located
in between a large vessel known as the Pulmonary artery and function when the
right ventricle pumps blood into the lungs through the pulmonary artery.
·
Aortic valve: Located
in an even larger vessel known as the aorta which allows the blood from the
left ventricle to flow To the rest of the body
If there is a valve heart disease, there is likely
to be something wrong with one of these 4 valves.
The blood flow:
·
Valves act as one way inlets to allow only the one
path way of blood flow.
·
Blood is only allowed to flow from the right atrium
to the right ventricle.
·
Which then pumps blood to the lungs.
·
Thereafter, the blood is re-oxygenated.
·
The blood then enters the left atrium from the
lungs
·
The blood goes into the left ventricle and get
pumped out the rest of the body
All these valves work in an efficient pattern by
opening and closing in succession. After the left ventricle has contracted, the
aortic valve closes and the mitral valve open to allow blood to flow from the
left atrium into the left ventricle. As the left ventricle contract, the mitral
valve closes and the aortic valve opens so that the blood flows into aorta.
Heart valve disease
·
Regurgitation
o
the valve does not close fully. This causes the
blood to flow backward instead of forwards.
·
Stenosis
(or Contraction)
o
the valve is narrowed or not properly formed. This prevents
the blood from flowing properly through the chambers. The heart then has to
pump ever harder and with more force to push blood through the valve.
Symptom
of heart disease
(You can have both
regurgitation and stenosis at the same time in one heart valve).
·
Shortness
of breath
·
Especially when exerting or lying down flat
·
This happen because blood cannot clear your lungs
efficiently and/or there is backflow of blood into the lungs.
·
Weakness
and dizziness
·
Not enough blood being pumped into your body
·
Chest
discomfort
·
Palpitations
·
Swelling
in ankles, feet or even abdomen
o
Caused by heart failure, when heart cannot pump out
enough blood to meet the demands of the body and there is a backflow
·
Weight
gain
o
Caused by water retention and swelling.
The severity of heart disease experiences does not
always correlate with how serious the valve disease is. People may have very
severe valve disease and no symptoms and all, and vice versa.
Cause of heart disease
·
Congenital
·
Develop even before birth
·
Most likely the artic or pulmonary valve is
affected
·
May have deformed cusps or leaflet that has are not
attached properly.
·
Can also be the wrong size?
·
Rheumatic fever
·
Untreated bacterial throat infection can sometimes
infect and in flames the heart valve.
·
The symptoms can only be seen 20 to 30 years later
·
The valve mostly affected is the mitral valve.
·
Endocarditis
·
Infection of the inner heart lining
·
Coronary heart disease
·
Cardiomyopathy (heart muscle disease).
·
Syphilis
·
Hypertension
·
Aortic aneurysm
Article by:
Dr.
Y. L. M Tell me
About
health
Star 2 Thursday,
21 January 2016
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