The terms congenital and acquired are frequently used in medicine to describe a disorder, disease or defect that is either present from birth (congenital) or develops during the course of life (acquired). Congenital defects stem from fetal development but is often only obvious after birth once the baby’s body has to sustain life independent of the mother. However, with modern investigative techniques, many congenital disorders can be detected during fetal life and the appropriate measures taken prior to birth in certain cases. Congenital diseases or defects can affect any part of the body or organ and the heart and great blood vessels are no exception. These diseases and defects can be life-threatening and require intervention in fetal life or immediately after birth while in some cases it may only manifest later in life or adulthood.

continue reading Congenital Heart Disease and Defects Causes and Symptoms

The heart is a muscular pump with its own electrical system to keep it functioning independently. Electrical impulses are generated in the sinoatrial node (SA node) in the atrial wall, passes directly to the muscles of the atria, is delayed in the atrioventricular node (AV node) and then transmitted to the muscles of the ventricles. The impulses travel in only one direction and ensures that the atria contract first and then the ventricles. In this manner blood received in the atria, pushed into the ventricles and then pumped out to the lungs and rest of the body.The heart beat has to maintain a constant rate and rhythm to ensure that blood is being pumped out in manner that is sufficient for the body’s needs.

continue reading Irregular Heart Beat Rhythm and Rate (Arrhythmia)

The heart has a complex electrical system which regulates the contraction and relaxation of its muscular wall. This enables the heart to function by receiving blood during relaxation and pumping it out with force to the lungs and other parts of the body. The rhythm of the heart beat is controlled by a natural pacemaker known as the sinoatrial node (SA node) which generates the electrical impulse. To prevent simultaneous contraction of the atria and ventricles, the atrioventricular node (AV node) delays the conduction of the impulse to the ventricle. Fibers from the SA node to the AV node (internodal pathways) and then from the AV node to the rest of the ventricles (Purkinje fibers) serves as the electrical ‘cables’ of the heart.

continue reading Electrical Conduction System and Activity of the Human Heart

The heart is a muscular pump that fills with blood when the muscle relaxes (diastole) and forces blood out during contraction (systole). The heart sounds are normally a ‘lub dub’ sound when heard with the aid of a stethoscope. It is a result of the closing or snapping back of the heart valves and the flow of blood through the heart and blood vessels. Sound is created by reverberation and the heart sounds area normal phenomenon. Sometimes, additional or abnormal sounds may be heard when the normal flow of blood is affected or heart valves are diseased.

continue reading Heart Murmurs (Abnormal Heart Sounds) Types, Causes, Symptoms

The blood vessels of the body are the conduits for blood to travel to and from the heart. Arteries carry oxygen rich blood from the heart to various tissues while veins return it to the heart so that it can be routed to the lungs for oxygenation. Blood vessels are prone to many of the same diseases that affect any other tissues in the body. Although its primary function, which is the transport of blood, may be affected to varying degrees the target organs may also be impaired. This can lead to a host of signs and symptoms associated with decreased blood supply to a specific organ which is impairs its functionality.

continue reading Takayasu Arteritis (Pulseless Disease), Large Artery Disease