Heart and Vessels

Bleeding and Blood Loss (Hemorrhage)

Bleeding is the loss of blood from a vessel and the medical term is hemorrhage. Although bleeding is often only associated with an open wound on the skin, there can be blood loss internally without any obvious signs of bleeding. Blood may pass out into environment any of the extravascular spaces – these are any >> Read More ...

Angina Pectoris Meaning, Types, Pain Location, Symptoms

What is angina pectoris? Angina pectoris (Latin for chest pain) is pain that is caused by injury to the heart muscle (myocardium) during times of increased cardiac activity as a result of impaired blood flow and reduced oxygen supply. Angina pain is often described as a dull, constricting or crushing pain that is felt >> Read More ...

Hypertension – Types, Pathophysiology, Explain Blood Pressure

What is hypertension? Hypertension is the medical term for elevated blood pressure. This is a higher than normal pressure within the blood vessels as blood travels through it. High blood pressure in the short term does not cause any significant damage in the body and may even go unnoticed. However, prolonged elevation of >> Read More ...

Heart Beating Sensation (Palpitations) Pounding, Racing, Jumping

The heart beats about 70 to 80 times per minute in the average adult and the rhythm is usually regular. The rate, however, may rise during activity and lowers during rest. Usually a person is not aware of their beating heart unless they feel their pulse. During periods of exercise, the heart beat may become more prominent >> Read More ...

Heart Sounds Reasons and Locations

What are heart sounds? The heart sounds are the normal sounds that is made by the activity of the heart and heard with a stethoscope placed on the chest wall (auscultation). This sounds like a “lub, dub” and is associated with the beating heart (contraction and relaxation) and the flow of blood through the >> Read More ...

Endocarditis (Infective and Non-Infective) Causes and Symptoms

What is endocarditis? Endocarditis is the medical term for inflammation of the inner heart wall (endocardium) and heart valves. The middle muscular layer of the heart known as the myocardium may also be affected (myocarditis). When the endocardium and myocardium are both inflamed, the condition is known as endomyocarditis. >> Read More ...

Blood Flow in the Brain (Cerebral) and Control Mechanisms

Blood flow to the brain (cerebral blood flow) is essential to maintain consciousness and many vital functions. Unlike certain other parts of the body, a few seconds without blood flow will not be detrimental to functioning but in the brain, a lack of blood flow for even just 10 seconds will lead to unconsciousness. The >> Read More ...
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