HEART

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The heart is a muscular organ, about the size of your fist, located slightly to the left of the center of your chest. Think of it as a pump—its job is to keep blood moving throughout your body.

🩸 Role of the Heart in the Body

The heart’s main role is circulation. Here’s what it does:

1. Pumps oxygen-rich blood from the lungs to the rest of the body.

2. Pumps oxygen-poor blood back to the lungs to get oxygenated again.

3. Delivers nutrients and hormones through the bloodstream.

4. Removes waste products like carbon dioxide.

Basically, without the heart doing its thing 24/7, the body’s organs and tissues wouldn’t get what they need to survive.

⚠️ Common Heart Diseases

Unfortunately, the heart can face a few issues. Here are some common ones:

1. Coronary Artery Disease (CAD):

   • Arteries supplying the heart get narrowed or blocked.

   • Can lead to heart attacks.

2. Heart Attack (Myocardial Infarction):

   • A blockage stops blood flow to part of the heart.

   • Causes permanent damage to heart muscle.

3. Heart Failure:

   • The heart can't pump blood as well as it should.

   • Can be due to damage from previous conditions.

4. Arrhythmias:

   • Irregular heartbeats—too fast, too slow, or uneven.

   • Can affect how well the heart works.

5. Valve Diseases:

   • Heart valves may not open or close properly.

   • Can affect blood flow inside the heart.

6. Congenital Heart Defects:

   • Heart problems present at birth.

   • Vary in severity and may require surgery.

7. Cardiomyopathy:

   • Disease of the heart muscle.

   • Makes it harder for the heart to pump blood.

🥦 How to Keep the Heart Healthy

• Eat a heart-healthy diet (less salt, sugar, and bad fats)

• Exercise regularly

• Avoid smoking

• Manage stress

• Monitor blood pressure and cholesterol

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Treating heart disease depends on the type and severity of the condition, but treatment usually involves a mix of:

1. Lifestyle changes

2. Medications

3. Medical procedures or surgery (if needed)

Let’s break this down:

🏃‍♂️ Lifestyle Changes (First Line of Defense)

These changes are often recommended for all types of heart disease:

• Healthy diet (low salt, low sugar, low fat)

• Regular exercise (walking, swimming, biking)

• Quit smoking

• Limit alcohol

• Stress management

• Weight control

• Manage diabetes or high blood pressure

💊 Common Medications for Heart Disease

Here are categories of meds used, depending on the condition:

1. For High Blood Pressure (Hypertension):

• ACE inhibitors (e.g., enalapril, lisinopril)

• ARBs (e.g., losartan, valsartan)

• Beta-blockers (e.g., metoprolol, atenolol)

• Calcium channel blockers (e.g., amlodipine)

• Diuretics (e.g., hydrochlorothiazide)

2. For Coronary Artery Disease / Preventing Heart Attacks:

• Statins (e.g., atorvastatin, simvastatin) – lower cholesterol

• Aspirin – thins blood to prevent clots

• Nitrates (e.g., nitroglycerin) – relieve chest pain

• Clot preventers (e.g., clopidogrel)

3. For Heart Failure:

• ACE inhibitors or ARBs

• Beta-blockers

• Aldosterone antagonists (e.g., spironolactone)

• Diuretics – help reduce fluid buildup

• SGLT2 inhibitors (like dapagliflozin – newer option)

4. For Arrhythmias (Irregular Heartbeats):

• Antiarrhythmic drugs (e.g., amiodarone, flecainide)

• Beta-blockers or calcium channel blockers

• Anticoagulants (blood thinners) – like warfarin or apixaban, to prevent stroke in atrial fibrillation

🏥 Other Treatments

If meds aren’t enough, some people might need:

• Angioplasty and stenting (open clogged arteries)

• Bypass surgery (create new blood flow paths)

• Pacemaker or defibrillator (control heart rhythm)

• Heart valve repair or replacement

• Heart transplant (in severe heart failure)