Aortic valve and Pulmonic valve

The aortic valve lies between the left ventricle and the aorta. The aortic valve has three cusps. During ventricular systole, pressure rises in the left ventricle. When the pressure in the left ventricle rises above the pressure in the aorta, the aortic valve opens, allowing blood to exit the left ventricle into the aorta. When ventricular systole ends, pressure in the left ventricle rapidly drops. When the pressure in the left ventricle decreases, the aortic pressure forces the aortic valve to close. The closure of the aortic valve contributes the A2 component of the second heart sound .The most common congenital abnormality of the heart is the bicuspid aortic valve. In this condition, instead of three cusps, the aortic valve has two cusps. This condition is often undiagnosed until the person develops calcific aortic stenosis. Aortic stenosis occurs in this condition usually in patients in their 40s or 50s, an average of over 10 years earlier than in people with normal aortic valves

Pulmonic valve
The pulmonic valve lies between the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery and also has three cusps.

Mitral valve ,Tricuspid valve and Semilunar valves

Also known as the bicuspid valve, the mitral valve gets its name from the resemblance to a bishop's mitre (a type of hat). It prevents blood flowing from the left ventricle into the left atrium. It is on the left side of the heart and has two leaflets.
A common complication of rheumatic fever is thickening and stenosis of the mitral valve

Tricuspid valve
The tricuspid valve is on the right side of the heart, between the right atrium and the right ventricle

Semilunar valves
These are positioned on the pulmonary artery and the aorta. These valves do not have chordae tendinae, but are more similar to valves in veins.

Atrioventricular valves

These are large, multicusped valves that prevent backflow from the ventricles into the atria during systole. They are anchored to the wall of the ventricle by chordae tendinae, that prevent the valve from inverting.
The chordae tendinae are attached to papillary muscles that cause tension to better hold the valve. Together, the papillary muscles and the chordae tendinae are known as the subvalvular apparatus. The function of the subvalvular apparatus is to keep the valves from prolapsing into the atria when they close. The subvalvular apparatus have no effect on the opening and closure of the valves, however. This is caused entirely by the pressure gradient across the valve.

Heart Valves

In anatomy, the heart valves are valves in the heart that maintain the unidirectional flow of blood by opening and closing depending on the difference in pressure on each side. The mechanical equivalent of the heart valves would be the reed valves.
There are four valves of the heart (not counting the valve of the coronary sinus and valve of the inferior vena cava
The two atrioventricular (AV) valves ensure blood flows from the atria to the ventricles, and not the other way.
The two semilunar (SL) valves are present in the arteries leaving the heart, and they prevent blood flowing back from the arteries into the ventricles.
The sound of the heart valves shutting is causes the heart sounds.

Tips To Help Prevent Heart Disease

You should always keep in mind that whatever actions you do today can either help to prevent, delay or minimize the effect of heart disease or worsen it. The key is to control risk factors. Granted that you cannot control every risk factor for heart disease such as family history but you can definitely do something about your behavior. Age and gender also influence your risk of heart disease. Oral chelation can have a very beneficial effect on reducing your risk of heart disease. Major Risk Factors of Heart DiseaseCholesterol LevelsCholesterol is a type of a lipid, a soft, fat-like substance that serves as a source of fuel. Excessive cholesterol can cause build-up of atherosclerotic plaque. Accumulation of plaque in arteries can block blood flow and lead to a heart attack. LDL cholesterol, the so-called "bad" cholesterol, is transported to sites throughout the body, where it's used to repair cell membranes or to make hormones. LDL cholesterol can accumulate in the walls of your arteries. HDL cholesterol, the so-called "good" cholesterol, transports cholesterol to the liver, where it's altered and removed from the body.Blood PressureNormal blood pressure level is defined as less than 130 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) for systolic blood pressure and less than 85 mm Hg for diastolic blood pressure. The higher the blood pressure, the more likely it is to take a toll on the heart and on the brain. Blood pressure should be checked whether or not your levels are high. For normal, check once every two years. For high-normal, check once a year. If extremely high, you should get immediate care. Then get multiple measurements to know if a high level is sustained over time.DiabetesAnother risk factor for heart disease is diabetes, a chronic disease of insulin deficiency or resistance. Type 2 diabetes, the most common type, is associated with obesity and may be prevented by maintaining ideal body weight through exercise and balanced nutrition.Tips For Controlling Risk of Heart DiseaseStop SmokingThe effect of smoking on your lungs can cause almost every other medical condition.Get ActiveRoutine physical activity is highly recommended and helpful in controlling obesity. Try to perform 30 minutes of moderate physical activity every day. Fast walking is one of the best way to prevent heart disease. If you can lose even a small amount of weight, five pounds for example, it may have a positive effect on lipid levels and blood pressure preventing heart disease.Limit Alcohol ConsumptionLimit daily alcohol intake to three ounces or fewer to prevent heart disease. People who drink large amounts of alcohol (six to eight ounces a day) tend to have higher blood pressure.Watch What You EatEat five helpings of fruits and vegetables daily to prevent heart disease.Maintain adequate dietary potassium, calcium and magnesium intake.Reduce saturated fats and cholesterol to stay away from heart disease.Consider using a quality edta or oral chelation product in your diet.

Heart Disease: Premature Cardiovascular Disease

Last researchers pointing that women who suffer during pregnancy certain complications could be more likely to develop a special kind of premature cardiovascular disease, according to these studies published, mothers with maternal placental syndrome have double risk of developing cardiovascular disease in a early state, and if we talk about maternal placental syndromes we could mention it syndromes such as; pre-aclampsia and high blood pressure for instance.In cases where pitifully the baby died or his growth was restricted, the odds will increase further, so the risk of developing a premature cardiovascular disease after a maternal placental syndrome is higher, this will very probably in the case where the fetus is adversely affected.A piece of advise for mothers in order to prevent, is measure their blood pressure to see if it is at a normal level, this could be 4 or 6 months after the birth, other cardiovascular disease risk factors could be obesity, raised cholesterol levels, smoking and insulin resistance. To say, the maternal placental syndrome should be considered as an additional risk factor for cardiovascular disease.The link between placenta problems in pregnancy and heart disease has been assessed by scientists in a recently study with more than 1.000.000.- healthy women, about 75.000.- were diagnosed with maternal placental syndrome, 7.5 %.The big problem is that there is a pandemic of obesity in our midst, whoever could think that we must ensure that women are a healthy weight before they enter their reproductive years.In conclusion, this article tell us about the importance to reduce our premature cardiovascular disease risks, and that may be done with preventive controls' blood pressure for instance or with a healthy weight before, during and after pregnancy and controlling the other risk factors for cardiovascular disease, but the most important in my personal opinion is to learn all aspects involving in pregnancy and maybe this article could be a little bit useful by someone in this beautiful process.

Heart Disease Facts

It is estimated that approximately 7% of the population has some form of heart disease or damage to their heart. Most people associate heart disease with arteriosclerosis, which leads to heart attacks. However, there are other forms of heart disease, which are just as deadly. Knowing the facts about arteriosclerosis as well as the other primary forms of heart disease can enable you to recognize the symptoms both in yourself and loved ones. And early recognition is one of the most important factors in surviving heart disease.Arteriosclerosis is the most common type of heart disease. This disease is characterized by a hardening of the arteries, including the coronary arteries, which surround and nourish the heart. Many believe that this process begins early in life. It is so common that it is found present in over half of Americans at death. Though the exact process is unknown, it is understood that the build up of plaque in blood vessels eventually causes the arteries to harden. Thus, the plaque seems to be the precipitating factor. Luckily, this can be controlled through a proper diet and regularly exercise. Eventually the build up is enough that the blood flow becomes seriously constricted. When this happens, the result may be a myocardial infarction, which we commonly call a heart attack. Another possible result of this same problem is when the fatty deposits form a clot that eventually cuts off the blood supply to the heart or some other vital part of the body. These two possibilities amount to the most frequent cause of death for the average American.Cardiomyopathy is the next most common form of heart disease. This disease takes the form of impaired function of the heart itself. What has happened is that somehow the heart has been damaged and weakened to such an extent that the pumping action is impaired and in the process of compensating the muscle grows larger and larger. As the damage increases the danger of clotting and cardiac arrhythmia increases as well. Cardiomyopathy often results in damage to the heart’s electrical system and is the primary factor in later developing arrhythmias. Many patients with Cardiomyopathy are the prime candidates for heart transplants, which has a chance of saving their lives.The final form of heart disease is when damage takes place on or near the heart valves themselves. This damage is usually a result of a congenital defect or an infection. Often it is a strep throat infection, which untreated, leads to rheumatic fever and eventually direct damage to the heart valves. Rheumatic fever has been well controlled in the United States but it is still responsible for approximately 7000 deaths per year. As far as congenital defects, it is estimated that only a portion of the 25,000 babies born yearly with heart defects have damage to the heart valves. One known cause is when the mother contracts German measles during late term pregnancy.Regardless of the type of heart problem encountered it is helpful to know the common warning signs for a heart attack. They are:- A feeling of pain or slight pressure to the chest or a crushing sensation behind the breastbone. This may radiate to the shoulder, arm or legs.- The feeling usually lasts for a length of time.- OTC medication or rest does not reduce the pain though it will respond to a narcotic drug.- The face often turns ashen gray and a cold sweat develops. Often this is accompanied by nausea and shortness of breath.- Retching, belching or vomiting may occur which is often confused with indigestion.IF YOU OR A LOVED ONE EXPERIENCES THESE SYMPTOMS GET TO A DOCTOR!

Heart Disease - A Very Real Threat To All Dogs

Heart disease is one of the most frequently seen problems in dogs. Different diseases involving the heart valves or heart muscle can lead to heart failure. Mitral insufficiency is by far the most common type of heart disease seen in dogs.Mitral insufficiency involves the heart valve that separates chambers in the heart. If this valve becomes diseased and fails to close properly, blood is allowed to flow backward, which reduces blood flow forcing the heart to work harder to keep up with the body’s demand for blood. This over working of the hart eventually leads to premature heart failure.This disease can result from normal wear and tear associated with age, or it can appear secondary to other diseases, normally periodontal disease. Bacteria from the diseased teeth and gums can enter the blood stream and attach to the heart valve, setting up infection and inflammation. Over time, the heart valve becomes damaged and scarred, making it unable to function properly. The end result is heart failure.The clinical signs associated with a failing heart include coughing, especially at night and after exercise, breathing difficulties, distended abdomen, weight loss, and exercise intolerance. Your veterinarian can diagnose heart disease by x-rays and electrocardiogram.Many forms of heart disease are accompanied by heart murmurs. A heart murmur is nothing more than an irregular sound caused by the disruption of normal blood flow within the heart. Heart murmurs are usually classified according to their intensity as heard by a stethoscope. Your veterinarian can identify which portion of the heart is affected by pinpointing the area on the dog’s chest where the murmur is the loudest.Unfortunately, most cases of heart disease are nonreversible. The treatment for any dog suffering from such is to create an environment that relieves some of the workload on the heart. Special diets and medications can be used to improve the quality of life and extend the animal’s life expectancy. Early detection is the key here. At the first sign of clinical problems mentioned earlier you should get the dog to a veterinarian as soon as possible.

Heart Disease Signs Symptoms Information

Of the numerous types of cardiovascular conditions, the one that is most likely to lead to a heart attack is what is known as Coronary Heart Disease or more appropriately, Coronary Artery Disease (CAD). One Condition increased cardiovascular risk is diabetes and high cholesterol level. You want reduce the risk for CAD. Highly variable cyclic training has been linked to increased anti-oxidant prodcution in the body and an anti-inflammatory response, a more efficient nitric oxide response,which can encourage a healthy cardiovascular system. Also increased metabolic rate response which can assist with weight loos and decrease cholesterol level. To summarize, some of the potential benefits of variable cyclic training compared to steady state endurance training are improved cardiovascular health, increased anti-oxidant protection, improved immune function, reduced risk for joint wear and tear, reduced muscle wasting and increased capacity for the heart to handle life's every day stressors. In addition, regular cardiovascular exercise can increase the concentration of hemoglobin in blood, allowing the body to become more efficient at transporting oxygen to the cells that need it, as well as removing waste products such as carbon dioxide. Antioxidants protect arteries as well as the heart itself in several ways.A daily dose of fish oil has helped prevent, slow or even reverse the hardening and narrowing of arteries in heart disease in some studies. Reduce the cholesterol decrease the arteries become rigid and hard to produce coronary arteries disease.Cholesterol only affixes itself to arteries in order to coat and cover up the abrasions and protect the underlying tissue like a waterproof bandage. Therefore cholestero is an important function of the body, but too much cholesterol in the body becomes a risk as it can clog up arteries and this can be cause of heart attacks and strokes. The latest studies suggest that chronic inflammation of the lining of arteries is an important factor in the development of atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease. For this reason you need to remember these free radicals in your arteries and veins promote the plaque build up in our arteries leading us to incrased risk of heart disease. Other sustance related to CAD is homocysteine. Homocysteine is chemical compound and is formed from S-adenosyl methionine reaction. The elevations of homocysteine occur in rare hereditary disease homocystinuria. This chemical product cause heart attacks by puching holes in arteries, starting plaque formation and then causing clots fo form in the plaques.The person with CAD have several symptoms. The most commond is chest pain and short of breath. Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that last more than a few minutes, or that goes away and comes back. One disease confuse with coronary heart disease is heart burn. Heart burn can be cause by eat spicy foods, caffeinated beverages, alcohol and even stress can lead to symptoms. If more people recognized the signs of heart attacks or coronary arteries disease and acted sooner, more people would survive them. One reason that people don't always recognize the warning signs of heart attacks is that they act differently. Also remember, heart attacks in diabetics occur at a younger age than they do in non-diabetics. Heart attacks and coronary arteries disease can be prevented by preventing the development of atherosclerosis in the coronary arteries.

Heart Disease: The Dangers Of Coronary Heart Attack And How To Avoid It

What is a coronary heart attack?Are you at the risk of a coronary heart attack?Here are some insights to help you...A heart attack happens when the blood supply to part of the heart muscle itself (the myocardium) is severely reduced or even stopped entirely.The medical term for a heart attack is myocardial infarction.The reduction or stoppage of blood supply happens when one or more of the coronary arteries supplying blood to the heart muscle is blocked.This may be caused by the buildup of plaque (deposits of fat-like substances), also known as atherosclerosis.The plaque may eventually burst, tear or rupture, creating a "situation" where a blood clot forms and blocks the artery.This may lead to a heart attack.A heart attack is also sometimes known as a coronary thrombosis or coronary occlusion.It is a medical fact that heart disease is among the most dangerous health hazards facing people 50 yrs and older in America.Clinical studies, laboratory investigations and a number of surveys show that certain personal characteristics and lifestyles can lead to increased dangers of a heart attack (coronary heart disease).These danger signs are called "risk factors". The well established risk factors are high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, cigarette smoking and diabetes mellitus.Other risk factors that may increase or lead to the risk of having a heart attack are obesity, a sedentary life-style, an aggressive response to stress, and certain drugs.In the past two decades, millions of Americans have learned about these risk factors and have tried to decrease them by seeking medical attention and by changing their lifestyles.Many adults have stopped smoking. The medical control of high blood pressure has greatly improved.The average cholesterol level of the population has decreased continually over the last two decades, probably due to changes in dietary habits and increased exercise.This attempt to modify risk factors almost certainly has contributed to the declining death rate from heart disease in the United States.Overall, heart-related problems have declined about 25 percent in the last decade.Some of this decrease undoubtedly is due to better medical care of heart attack victims, but it is likely that a sizable percentage is related to modification of risk factors.The entire population has become more aware of the seriousness of heart disease and coronary heart problems.CPR training is offered in schools, places of business, and church and community functions, and everyone seems to recognize that prevention of coronary heart disease is a partnership between the public and the medical community.There are a number of factors implicated in coronary heart disease. Some of these may raise coronary risk by accentuating the major risk factors already discussed.Others may act in ways not understood. Still others may be linked mistakenly to coronary risk.Obesity predisposes individuals to coronary heart disease. Some of the reasons for this are known, but others are not.The major causes of obesity in Americans are excessive intake of calories and inadequate exercise.When caloric intake is excessive, some of the excess frequently is saturated fat, which further raises the blood cholesterol. Thus, obesity contributes to higher coronary risk in a variety of ways.Most of the major risk factors are silent. They must be sought actively, and much of the responsibility for their detection lies with each of us as individuals.Regular checkups are particularly necessary if there is a family history of heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels or diabetes.May these health insights into heart disease help you to live a healthier and happier life.

The Major Risk Factors of Heart Disease

You should always keep in mind that whatever actions you do today can either help to prevent, delay or minimize the effect of heart disease or worsen it. The key is to control risk factors. Granted that you cannot control every risk factor for heart disease such as family history but you can definitely do something about your behavior. Age and gender also influence your risk of heart disease.Major Risk Factors of Heart DiseaseCholesterol LevelsCholesterol is a type of a lipid, a soft, fatlike substance that serves as a source of fuel. Excessive cholesterol can cause buildup of atherosclerotic plaque. Accumulation of plaque in arteries can block blood flow and lead to a heart attack. LDL cholesterol, the so-called "bad" cholesterol, is transported to sites throughout the body, where it's used to repair cell membranes or to make hormones. LDL cholesterol can accumulate in the walls of your arteries. HDL cholesterol, the so-called "good" cholesterol, transports cholesterol to the liver, where it's altered and removed from the body.Blood PressureNormal blood pressure level is defined as less than 130 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) for systolic blood pressure and less than 85 mm Hg for diastolic blood pressure. The higher the blood pressure, the more likely it is to take a toll on the heart and on the brain. Blood pressure should be checked whether or not your levels are high. For normal, check once every two years. For high-normal, check once a year. If extremely high, you should get immediate care. Then get multiple measurements to know if a high level is sustained over time.DiabetesAnother risk factor for heart disease is diabetes, a chronic disease of insulin deficiency or resistance. Type 2 diabetes, the most common type, is associated with obesity and may be prevented by maintaining ideal body weight through exercise and balanced nutrition.Tips For Controlling Risk of Heart DiseaseStop SmokingThe effect of smoking on your lungs can cause almost every other medical condition.Get ActiveRoutine physical activity is highly recommended and helpful in controlling obesity. Try to perform 30 minutes of moderate physical activity every day. Fast walking is one of the best way to prevent heart disease. If you can lose even a small amount of weight, five pounds for example, it may have a positive effect on lipid levels and blood pressure preventing heart disease.Limit Alcohol ConsumptionLimit daily alcohol intake to three ounces or fewer to prevent heart disease. People who drink large amounts of alcohol (six to eight ounces a day) tend to have higher blood pressure.Watch What You EatEat five helpings of fruits and vegetables daily to prevent heart disease.Maintain adequate dietary potassium, calcium and magnesium intake.Reduce saturated fats and cholesterol to stay away from heart disease.