The Heart and the Circulatory System

A healthy heart needs exercise. Without exercise and a balanced diet in cholesterol and saturated greases, the heart suffers from a coronary thrombosis or a myocardial infarction.

Congenital Diseases

During pregnancy, the use of alcohol, medications and tobacco can cause congenital deformations or defects. Rubella during pregnancy could produce heart damages in the fetus.

Rheumatic Fever

Rheumatic fever is an infection by the streptococcus bacteria. Symptoms include angina or pharyngitis. High fever and an inflammation of the joints are the most common symptoms. Doctors prescribe antibiotics to eliminate the infection, otherwise the rheumatic fever can cause severe damage to the heart. This infection is also known as acute poliarticular rheumatism.

Cardiac Insufficiency

Cardiac insufficiency happens when the heart fails to distribute blood to the lungs and other organisms. This disease is the product of an arteriosclerosis, an arterial hypertension or an acute poliarticular rheumatism. The main symptom is shortness of breath. Cardiac insufficiency can be controlled by digitalis, diuretics and surgery.

Cardiac Arrhythmia

Cardiac arrhythmia is an irregularity of the heart beat. Arrhythmias are common and in general benign. There is no danger, so long as the heart does not beat too violently and fast.

Bradycardia

Bradycarda is slowness of the heart beat due to the icterus (jaundice) or diabetes.

Tachycardia

Tachycardia is the racing of the heart beat to more than a 100 beats per minute in relation to the normal 60-80 beats.

Extrasystole

Extrasystole is a suplemmentary heart beat. It is dangerous to the person that often suffers from it. Usually, the extrasystole is caused by fatigue and nervous tension.

Cardiac Crisis or Myocardial Infarction

A person can suffer from a myocardial infarction when the coronary artery has a contriction from a blood clot (coronary thrombosis) that prevents the blood from reaching the heart. Chest pains, vomiting and cold sweats are the main symptoms.

Arterial Hypertension

Arterial hypertension happens when the arterial pressure increases to 120-140 over 70-90 mm of mercury, causing arterial damage. In many cases, doctors cannot determine the cause of this disease. However, obesity, lack of exercise, emotional stress, salt, and the contraceptive pill are factors that increase hypertension.

Arteriosclerosis and Atherosclerosis

Arteriosclerosis is the hardening of the arteries. Atherosclerosis is characterized by an irregular distribution of lipid deposit in the intima (innermost) of large and medium-sized arteries. Both diseases are main causes of a myocardial infarction. To lessen the risk, it is necessary to exercise, control the weight with a healthy diet, and not to smoke.