Inside your chest, there’s a special blood tube called the left internal mammary artery (LIMA). It runs down near your breastbone and helps bring blood to your chest. This artery is really strong and doesn’t clog up easily. Because of that, doctors often use it like a “spare pipe” when someone’s heart needs a bypass….
Your heart has little “doors” that open and close to let blood flow the right way. One of the most important doors is called the aortic valve. It’s the door between the big pumping room of your heart (the left ventricle) and the big tube (the aorta) that sends blood all around your body. Sometimes…
The left ventricle (LV) is the thick-walled, cone-shaped chamber of the heart responsible for pumping oxygen-rich blood into the systemic circulation via the aorta. Positioned at the bottom left of the heart, it receives blood from the left atrium through the mitral valve, then contracts forcefully to generate the high pressures necessary to propel blood…
Angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) are pills that help lower your blood pressure. They do this by stopping a body chemical called angiotensin from tightening your blood vessels. When the vessels stay relaxed and open, it’s easier for blood to flow, so your heart doesn’t have to work as hard. Some examples of these medicines are…
A heart attack happens when one of the blood tubes that feed your heart gets blocked, so the heart muscle doesn’t get enough oxygen. It’s like when a garden hose gets pinched and the water can’t flow. The blocked part of your heart can start to hurt and die, causing chest pain and shortness of…
An AICD is a tiny electronic device that doctors put under your skin near your collarbone. It watches your heartbeat all the time. If it notices your heart beating dangerously fast or out of control, it gives a quick electric shock to get your heart back to a normal beat. It’s like having a little…
An abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) happens when the big blood tube in your belly, called the aorta, gets weak and swells like a balloon. This tube normally carries blood from your heart down to your legs and organs. As some people get older, smoke, or have high blood pressure, the wall of the tube can…
Have you ever paused and wondered if hidden factors in your genes are silently influencing your heart health? Perhaps late at night, after hearing stories about family members or friends impacted by heart conditions, you’ve felt an uneasy curiosity—could this also be my destiny? You’re not alone in feeling this way. Coming from a family…
As the child of a single father who has undergone valve replacement surgery, I can tell first hand that single parenting often feels like juggling on a tightrope—balancing personal health amid endless responsibilities can seem impossible (seeing first hand as the child of a single father). Yet, prioritizing your heart health is essential not just…
Thank you for joining Heart Surgery Gifts on our journey. Our family has undergone multiple heart surgeries and our aim is to inspire your wellness journey and equip you with expert-backed tools that we have used to enhance cardiovascular endurance post-heart surgery. Your path to a healthier heart begins today, with steps that are simpler…