Monthly Archives: March 2010

Mitral Valve Prolapse: Causes, Complications, And Treatment

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Blood returns to your heart from every part of your body. It travels into the right side of the organ through the vena cavae. It leaves the right side and moves to your lungs, where it is replenished with oxygen. Newly enriched with oxygen, blood flows into your heart’s left side before leaving the organ in order to be circulated throughout your body.

Your mitral valve (MV) is one of four valves that help regulate the flow of your blood as it moves through your heart. It is located between your left atrium (one of two upper chambers) and left ventricle (one of two lower chambers). This particular valve can experience problems that affect the flow of blood between these two chambers. One such problem is called mitral valve prolapse (MVP).

Here, we will provide you with a brief overview regarding the causes and potential risks associated with MVP. We’ll also explain how mitral valve repair addresses the disorder.

Possible Causes Of The Disorder

If the MV is working as it should, its two leaflets (or, flaps) close after blood flows through it into your left ventricle. When the leaflets close, the entrance becomes sealed, thereby preventing the flow of blood back into your left atrium. With prolapse, one of the two leaflets is too large and bulges back into the atrium whenever your heart beats. As a result, the opening between your atrium and ventricle does not seal off properly. Blood is allowed to flow back into the upper chamber.

The causes of MVP are unknown, though experts have speculated the disorder is related to Marfan syndrome (a condition in which your body’s connective tissue is irregular). Other possible culprits include a specific type of kidney disease and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. Often, patients are born with a “floppy” mitral valve.

Potential Complications To Be Aware Of

Prolapse can run the gamut from very serious to minor. Most patients who have the disorder suffer few if any symptoms. That being said, when the condition is serious, it can lead to a number of complication, most commonly in the elderly.

The most common byproduct of prolapse is regurgitation. This is a condition, as already described, in which blood flows from your left ventricle into your left atrium because the opening is not properly sealed. In severe cases of regurgitation, you may be exposed to potential heart failure.

Another side effect of prolapse is an arrhythmia. There is far less risk inherent with arrhytmias than a severly regurgitant mitral valve, though your physician will most likely want to monitor it over time.

Prolapse can also lead to endocarditis. This is an infection of the endocardium, the membrane the forms the barrier betwee the chambers and valves of the heart. MVP can promote the growth of bacteria, leading to an infection of this lining.

How Is The Disorder Treated?

Depending on the severity of the condition, your doctor may prescribe one or more medications to treat the symptoms. For example, beta blockers can help reduce an arrhythmia while aspirin and anticoagulants can help prevent the formation of blood clots.

For patients who are suffering from severe MVP, surgery may be necessary to correct the disorder. A physician may choose either to repair the malfunctioning mitral valve or replace it. The latter approach is usually reserved for circumstances in which mitral valve repair is not feasible. If surgery is possible, the surgeon may perform a triangular resection or chordal transfer, depending on which of the two leaflets is abnormal.

Open heart surgery was once necessary to perform mitral valve repair. Today, a minimally invasive approach is commonly taken. This usually results in less post-op pain and a quicker recovery. If you suffer from a malfunctioning mitral valve that is causing severe problems, ask your physician whether a triangular resection or chordal transfer is an option.

What is The Maze Procedure?

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Over 2 million people in the U.S. suffer from atrial fibrillation (also referred to as AF or AFib). The likelihood of developing the condition increases as you grow older. It is estimated that nearly 5% of those who are over the age of 65 suffer from it. While it has traditionally been treated with medications such as anti-arrhythmics and shock therapy, the Maze procedure is far more effective. In this article, we’ll provide a brief overview of atrial fibrillation and describe how Maze surgery resolves the condition.

Erratic Rhythm in the Chambers of the Heart

Your heart consists of four chambers: two atria (upper) and two ventricles (lower). They relax and contract rhythmically in order for your heart to pump blood throughout your body. The rhythm is determined by electrical signals that are generated by your sinus node, a group of cells that are located within the upper right chamber. In effect, the sinus node functions like an organic pacemaker.

The electrical signals that are produced in the sinus node are supposed to follow a defined path through your atria and ventricles. Usually, they begin by travelling through the upper chambers of the heart, causing them to contract and force blood into the chambers below. The electrical impulses then move from the altrioventricular node through the ventricles, resulting in contraction.

An irregular, erratic heartbeat characterizes atrial fibrillation. The impulses from the sinus node flow through the atria chaotically, causing them to contract unpredictably. This can lead to heart palpitations, poor circulation, and breathing difficulties.

Resolving The Problem With The Maze Procedure

The Maze procedure can be used to design a path along which the sinus node’s electrical signals travel. This is accomplished by creating scar tissue. Because scar tissue cannot conduct electricity, it is capable of disrupting the erratic impulses and preventing them from occurring.

During the operation, a surgeon will make several small incisions into the left and right atria. The incisions must be precisely positioned to create a clear pathway for the impulses to follow. Once the incisions are made, they are promptly stitched back together to create scarring.

Open Versus Minimally Invasive Techniques

The Maze procedure can be performed either through open surgery (sternotomy) or by taking a minimally invasive approach. During open heart surger, it is requred that the sternum be split and the heart stopped. There is a significant risk of infection and substantial postoperative pain.

A minimally invasive approach eliminates the need for the surgeon to split the sternum or stop the heart. Rather, multiple small incisions are made between the ribs; a camera and surgical instruments are inserted through the incisions to access the site and complete the procedure. There is less likelihood of infection and less pain following the procedure.

Though atrial fibrillation many times can lead to reduced heart function and even stroke, it is not always dangerous. If you suffer from AFib, it is highly advisable to consult your physician regarding whether the Mazw procedure is an appropriate form of treatment for your condition.

Serious Facts On High Diastolic Blood Pressure

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Each heart beat causes blood to be pushed out into vessels that carry blood to different parts of the body and this in turn gives rise to blood pressure that is measured as being force applied to the walls of your arteries while blood is passing through these arteries. As and when the heart beats it causes highest amount of blood pressure which is also called systolic pressure while blood pressure during intervals when the heart is resting is named as diastolic blood pressure.

When you get your blood pressure checked the doctor will study both diastolic as well as systolic blood pressure and a reading is brought to ascertain what pressure levels are. The difficulty with having high diastolic blood pressure is that it can end up in high blood pressure or hypertension.

What’s more, high diastolic blood pressure is usually a cause for concern when it is having an effect on young folks as it may cause an early onset of coronary, stroke or maybe failure of kidneys as well as other types of major infirmities. Folk that have reached the age of fifty-five will most likely not be so much in danger of having high diastolic blood pressure since their diastolic pressure has a tendency to decrease with each passing year though their systolic pressure will begin to rise. A reading of eighty about diastolic blood pressure is known as par for the course and a reading between eighty and eighty-nine is perceived as being at an initial stage of raised blood pressure which is when you can have to handle your high diastolic blood pressure condition.

And, when the reading surpasses ninety your present position will be named as major and you need to then take sufficient measures to bring down your high diastolic blood pressure.

Refining your diet and removing factors that can lead to stressed living are considered to be as remedial steps which will help lower high diastolic blood pressure as too can taking of certain medicines as well as using a mixture of diet changes, more easy living and drugs all of which will help you reduce high diastolic blood pressure. It also pays to identify the explanations for high diastolic blood pressure since this information will help you in making required changes which is going to in turn help dump the explanations why the problem of high diastolic blood pressure arises in the first place. Among everyday reasons for high diastolic blood pressure obesity is one that should get handled awfully stubbornly and without further delay.

Repairing a Mitral Valve

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Blood flows between your left atrium and left ventricle through the mitral valve (MV). Normally, the sinoatrial node produces electrical impulses that travel through the atria (your heart’s upper chambers) before reaching the ventricles (the lower chambers). The impulses trigger contractions. As the left atrium contracts, blood is sent through the mitral valve. The valve opens and allows blood to flow through, then closes to prevent backflow from the ventricle.

MV failure can be caused by the stenosis (narrowing) or leaking (also known as regurgitation). Both problems can be caused by congenital defects, disease, or rheumatic fever. A regurgitant mitral valve may also be caused by coronary artery disease. Below, we’ll take a look at mitral valve repair for both stenosis and regurgitation. We’ll also explore why reparing the valve is usually a better method than replacing it.

How Narrowing Is Resolved

Mitral stenosis, whether due to a congenital defect or rheumatic fever, is characterized by the valve’s flaps (or leaflets) being fused together. Since the opening between the atrium and ventricle is narrowed, the atrium is forced to work much harder than normal to force blood into the ventricle. The condition is not immediately life-threatening, but can eventually lead to heart failure.

When the MV suffers stenosis, a procedure called mitral commissurotomy can be performed. It can be done through open surgery (i.e. cutting through the breastbone) or by catheterization. In the latter case, a balloon is affixed to a catheter which is threaded to the mitral valve. Once the catheter arrives at the site, the balloon is inflated and stretches the valvular opening.

How Regurgitation Is Resolved

Regurgitation is more common than stenosis. It is often due to a cleft in the valve (also called leaflet prolapse). Because the valve fails to fully seal the opening between the left atrium and ventricle, blood is allowed to leak from on chamber to the other (in both directions). In many cases, the cleft can simply be sewn closed, thereby resolving the leakage.

Another approach is annuloplasty. The leaflets of the valve are naturally attached to the hearty by a circular annulus. Annuloplasty is a procedure during which a surgeon positions a synthetic ring around the annulus to provide support for the leaflets.

Advantages Of Repairing Over Replacing

There are situations in which the mitral valve has become so defective or damaged that repair is no longer an option. In such cases, it must be replaced. That said, whenever possible, a surgeon will recommend repairing the valve over replacing it. There are many advantages to doing so.

For example, there is less likelihood of infection or stroke due to the absence of foreign material. There is also no need for anticoagulants, which must be taken by the patient when a replacement valve is used. Moreover, the survival rate among patients who undergo mitral valve repair is higher than the survival rate for those who receive replacements.

Mitral valve repair surgery is an effective approach for resolving stenosis or regurgitation. While valvular defects rarely present immediate danger to a patient’s life, the surgery can provide an improved lifestyle.

Ekho Heart Monitor & Cardiovascular Disease Facts

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Exercising a Healthy Heart

There is a huge increase in the quantity and different types of physical fitness machines available for sale.  It may be a great idea to consider using a heart rate monitor as a component of your physical fitness regime.  The Ekho Heart Monitor is one of the many types of heart rate monitors available.

Physical fitness and Heart Disease

Scientific health-related study has revealed there is certainly a relationship linking coronary disease and lack of exercise.  By just including a fitness plan into one’s own life activities, you actually cut down the chances of you ever having to manage heart illnesses.  If you have a heart condition, it is advisable to check with your professional medical physician first of all previous to doing exercising.

The heart is an actual muscle like any other muscle within the body; this is why, physical activity will definitely strengthen one’s heart.  By doing exercises, you are circulating blood through the system, and as well boosting the entire strength of the entire body.  Just some of the benefits of regular exercise are preventing osteoporosis, reducing unwanted fat, lowering stress, along with boosting your actual energy levels.

Risk Factors of Heart Disease

Coronary Heart Illness is in fact one of the most serious ailments that can be found.  Heart Illness is additionally certainly prevalent in this particular day and age, as a result of the kind of life styles we live.  Our own body system definitely will present us signs whenever we start to become unwell.  Blood pressure and also cholesterol levels are two typical signs that you could quite possibly be in possible danger of a coronary heart attack.  Smoking cigarettes in addition to excessive alcohol consumption may also put people in real danger of a coronary heart attack.  Among those that will actually develop significant heart difficulties, 60% of them are people who smoke.

Knowledge Concerning Women and Coronary Heart Illness

It has been for a while widely thought that coronary heart illnesses is normally more of a problem with guys than it is with women; nonetheless, the actual number of females with coronary heart condition complications also has been on the increase.  Universal causes of coronary heart diseases in women usually are being overweight, lack of a sufficient amount of physical exercise, inherited genes, age, and high cholesterol.  Just as stated before within this writing, the Ekho Heart Rate Monitor possibly can be a practical instrument designed for checking ones heart rate while exercising.

Women of African American ancestry have a higher chance of experiencing heart health issues as compared with those of white Caucasian women.  Latinos, Pacific Islanders, and also Aboriginal females in the Americas have greater probabilities of having heart health related ailments when compared with those of white Caucasian females.

Subsequent to menopause, women definitely will have changes in their cholesterol levels and their bodies will also produce less estrogen.  Hormone replacement therapies used to be traditionally used during women’s post-menopausal phase.  Major research projects have demonstrated that hormone therapy results in risks for a variety of health related illnesses and health issues, for example stroke, cancer, and also coronary heart illness.  Now, according to the most recently released medical results, it is actually more favourable for women to retain their overall health by simply preventing obesity, not smoking, consuming nutritious foods, combined with exercising on a regular basis.

Overview

In summing up, we definitely will all lead significantly more healthy lives and also enjoy a considerably healthier heart by simply adopting a healthful life-style.  This merely means consuming healthier nutritious foods, not smoking cigarettes, keeping a normal weight, along with restricting your consumption of alcoholic beverages.  I should really include in summing up, that I feel exercising can be at least one of the actual points to preserving overall health, as well as having longevity.  Also Ekho Heart Rate Monitors may well benefit you in helping to make sure you do not overtax your heart while doing exercises.