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…
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…
Atrial fibrillation is when the top parts of your heart (the atria) shake instead of beating smoothly. This makes the heartbeat irregular and sometimes very fast, like a drum that can’t keep a steady beat. It can make you feel like your heart is fluttering, or you’re out of breath, tired, or dizzy. Because the…
Acute coronary syndrome means your heart muscle isn’t getting enough blood because an artery is suddenly blocked by a clot. Think of it like a garden hose getting pinched—the part after the pinch can’t get water. When this blockage happens in your heart, it can cause chest pain or even a heart attack. Warning signs…
Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) is like a tiny machine in your body that helps control how tight your blood vessels are. It changes a substance called angiotensin I into another substance that tells your blood vessels to squeeze. When your vessels squeeze, your blood pressure goes up. Doctors use medicines called ACE inhibitors to stop this…
An ankle-brachial index is like a quick check to see if blood can get to your feet. A nurse puts small cuffs on your arm and ankle to measure blood pressure. Then they compare the numbers. If the ankle pressure is lower, it might mean the tubes (arteries) that carry blood to your legs are…
Unveiling the Gut-Heart Connection: How Your Microbiome Affects Cardiovascular Health Have you ever wondered how the health of your gut impacts your heart? Imagine gaining insight into how the trillions of microorganisms residing in your digestive system influence your cardiovascular well-being. By understanding these intricate connections, you can make informed decisions that enhance your heart…
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…