THE HEART: IT’S FUNCTION AND WAYS TO REDUCE RISK
OF HEART ATTACK
I INTRODUCTION
Good afternoon! I am Junior Argañosa, just call me as Sir Jr. I am graduated at STI Sat. Cruz
and passed the Board Examination last November 2008.
Before we start our lecture, can everyone please stand and let’s give a couple of time for a
simple prayer.
II PRAYER
See on separate sheet
III DISCUSSION
Introducing Topic
Okay! Class, do you know the purpose of our heart and how can we reduce the risk of heart
disease like heart attack?
According to DOH, heart disease is the Number one in the ten leading cause of mortality in the
Philippines both in men and women from year 2000 – 2005.
Through this in able to understand what is the importance of heart and its proper ways to take
care of it I will discuss about: The Heart: It’s Function and Ways to Prevent Heart Attack.
Lecture Proper
A. Blood Flow In The Heart
The Heart works as a pump to send oxygen-rich blood through all parts of your body. Blood contains
oxygen and nutrients that every cell in your body needs to survive. The oxygen-rich blood travels
throughout the arteries and vessels, nourishing the body so that it can function properly.
All blood enters the right side of the heart through two veins: The superior vena cava (SVC) and the
inferior vena cava (IVC).
The SVC collects blood from the upper half of the body. The IVC collects blood from the lower half of
the body. Blood leaves the SVC and the IVC and enters the right atrium (RA).
When the RA contracts, the blood goes through the tricuspid valve and into the right ventricle. When
the RV contracts, blood is pumped through the pulmonary valve, into the pulmonary artery (PA) and
into the lungs where it picks up oxygen.
Blood now returns to the heart from the lungs by way of the pulmonary veins and goes into the left
atrium (LA). When the LA contracts, blood travels through the mitral valve and into the left ventricle
(LV). The LV is a very important chamber that pumps blood through the aortic valve and into the aorta.
The aorta is the main artery of the body. It receives all the blood that the heart has pumped out and
distributes it to the rest of the body.
B. Blood Supply
The heart requires blood to supply it with oxygen and other nutrients so that it can do its work. The
heart gets its blood supply from the right and left coronary arteries. These arteries branch off from the
aorta just above the aortic valve.
Coronary artery disease is caused by a blockage in one of the coronary arteries. When a coronary
artery is partially blocked, that artery cannot supply enough blood to the heart muscle to meet its
needs during exertion. When someone with coronary artery disease exerts himself or herself, it causes
chest pain. This is due to lack of blood and oxygen to that part of the heart muscle and is called
angina. If the obstruction worsens (more frequent angina episodes, with less exertion) a condition
called unstable angina can occur. A heart attack happens when a coronary artery is completely
blocked and no blood or oxygen is getting to the heart muscle served by that artery. This also causes
chest pain and causes death to the heart muscle served by that artery.
C. Pathophysiology of Heart Attack
Drawing
This is the coronary artery, in person with known with increase cholesterol, there is a gradual build up
of cholesterol in the wall of artery (which is called atherosclerosis).
When it is ruptured, blood clots or thrombus will form. This thrombus totally occludes the artery which
impaired blood flow to the heart which causes ischemia and then the heart cells die and necrosis
occur.
D. The Ways to Reduce Risk of Heart Attack.
There are different ways to prevent Heart Disease,
1. Controlling the Diabetes, it can be done by:
Lifestyle Change
Change way of living can avoid diabetes and control sugar level in blood. Diabetic patients are advised
to take precaution to avoid and control diabetes by doing few things as below.
• Nutrition
Foods containing carbohydrate and sugar should be reduced so that the daily calorie
recruitment rate is controlled. Discuss with doctor or nutritionist a controlled diet ways.
• Exercises
Exercise is important to help reduce body weight and also gained the heart and lung health
(cardiorespiratory). Exercise must start by gradually and with doctor’s advice.
• Body Weight Control
Patient who have excess bodyweight will discover the sugar level in his/her body is difficult to
control. There has been patient who can stop taking diabetes drug when his/her body weight is
controlled.
• Self Examination/Check
Diabetic patients are advise to make their own self inspection especially to their fingers and
feet for signs of wound or infection because their pain sensibility is lesser. This ould enables
initial treatment so the infection is not spread.
Checkups and Drug
Examination by doctor to check content of sugar in the blood must be done continuously. This enables
diabetes patients are sure that their blood sugar level is controlled. It is estimated that for each 1
percent reduction rate of A1C blood test, affordable to reduce diabetes concerning problem up to 40
percent. Foot and hand care can reduce amputation cases caused by infection complication to as high
as 45 to 85 percent.
2. Preventing and controlling of Hypertension. It can be done by:
1. Know your blood pressure
Hypertension is a silent killer. You may feel no symptoms yet the body is slowly being destroyed by
high blood pressure.
Be proactive! Be aware of the risk! Have your BP checked regularly, at least once yearly. If your BP
level is borderline or elevated (i.e., 140/90 mmHg and above), see your doctor. So together, you can
make a plan to bring your BP under control.
2. Live a healthy lifestyle
A healthy lifestyle keeps you less likely to develop high blood pressure. You will also feel good knowing
that you are protected from hypertension.
Through initially it may be hard to change your lifestyle and habits, a resolute determination, help from
your friends and loved ones will make will make it easier to overcome the difficulties you may
encounter along the way.
Ways for a healthy lifestyle
* Exercise regularly, watch your weight, keep stress under control, avoid salty and fatty foods, avoid
too much caffeine, limit alcohol intake Stop smoking
3. Take your medication
If you are consistently hypertensive despite undergoing a healthy lifestyle, your doctor will now
prescribe a drug to combat your high blood pressure.
Medications can safely and effectively lower high blood pressure. Your doctor can explain the
medication and its side effects. He will closely monitor how well it controls your blood pressure. Most
people have few side effects after beginning their medication. However, if you feel different or worse
after taking them, tell your doctor right away.
3 . Prevent High Cholesterol Level
Eat low-fat, low-cholestrerol diet
• A variety of fruits and vegetables, grain products like bread, cereal, rice and pasta, including whole
grains. Fat-free and low-fat milk products, lean meats and poultry without skin, beans and peas, nuts
and seeds in limited amounts, unsaturated vegetable oils like canola, olive, safflower and soybean oils
Exercise daily
Stop Smoking
Reduce Stress
4. Prevent Obesity
Stay active. The most common way to prevent obesity is to live an active lifestyle
Watch your weight. You should weigh yourself once a week to monitor your health
BMI = ( kg/m²)
Below 18.5 Underweight
18.5 -24.9 Normal
25 - 29.9 Overweight
30 & Above Obese
Keep junk food out of your house
