Myocardial Infarction (Heart Attack)
Myocardial Infarction, better known as a “heart attack,” seems to becoming more common these days according to some people on social media. But what does the science have to say about it? What are the sources?
What are some causes of myocarial infarction? Heart disease is a big one. And there are some other causes that you might not be aware of.
There is so much new science about the dangers of myocardial infarction, or heart attacks, due to Climate Change and heat. An article from ScienceDaily titled, “Climate Change: Heat-induced heart attack risk on the rise.”
The World Health Organization (WHO) claims that, “Cardiovascular diseases (CVD’s) are the leading cause of death globally, taking an estimated 17.9 million lives each year. — WHO
Many people are concerned that the various covid vaccinations might somehow be responsible for people dropping dead from heart attacks or from myocarditis or pericarditis.
According to the Center for Disease Control, (CDC) website, “Since April 2021, increased cases of myocarditis and pericarditis have been reported in the United States after mRNA COVID-19 vaccination (Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna), particularly in adolescents and young adults. There has not been a similar reporting pattern observed after receipt of the Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine (Johnson & Johnson).”
The CDC website goes on to say, “In most cases, patients who presented for medical care have responded well to medications and rest and had prompt improvement of symptoms. Reported cases have occurred predominantly in male adolescents and young adults 16 years of age and older. Onset was typically within several days after mRNA COVID-19 vaccination, and cases have occurred more often after the second dose than the first dose. CDC and its partners are investigating these reports of myocarditis and pericarditis following mRNA COVID-19 vaccination.”
CDC continues to recommend COVID-19 vaccination for everyone 5 years of age and older given the risk of COVID-19 illness and related, possibly severe complications, such as long-term health problems, hospitalization, and even death.”
That’s why I decided to find a medical expert to help us learn more about what might possibly help prevent heart disease and maybe even help preventing myocardial infarction, or heart attacks.
Doctor Loy’s career spans almost 25 years of emergency medicine practice, including 10 years as the Medical Director for Moberly Regional Medical Center Emergency Department. Below is an article, provided to me by Doctor Loy to help us learn about our hearts. –Winston Widdes
Prevent Heart Disease by Learning About Your Heart
Your heart is directly involved in supplying all of your organs with the oxygen they need to function properly. Without it, your body would completely shut down.
This is why it’s so important to take good care of your heart. If you develop heart disease, your heart is no longer able to perform its primary function with the same
efficiency.
Learning more about the anatomy and functions of your heart can help you understand not only the role it plays in your overall well-being but also how you can take better care of it to avoid heart disease.
Functions of the Heart
Each day, your heart pumps about 2,000 gallons of blood if it’s functioning regularly. Your heart is a key component in keeping your blood cells oxygenated and delivering this oxygenated blood throughout your body.
Oxygenating Blood
Your cells could not perform their regular functions without oxygen, and oxygen fuels cellular respiration, which is where your cells use oxygen to break down nutrients into energy and waste. The waste gets discarded, and the energy is used as fuel for your body.
Since oxygen is such an integral part of your cells’ regular functions, your body has to ensure a constant supply is reaching your cells at all times, which is accomplished by oxygenating your blood.
The heart doesn’t supply this oxygen itself, but it does facilitate oxygenation by pumping deoxygenated blood into the lungs.
Circulating Blood
Once blood has been oxygenated, it moves from the lungs back into the heart. It then has to reach the rest of your body.
Your heart pumps this blood through your arteries, which carry it to organs and tissues throughout your body. Contractions, known as heartbeats, push blood through your circulatory system.
Once the oxygen is used up, blood returns to the heart to be oxygenated once again.
Anatomy of the Heart
Your heart is a complex organ made up of a series of chambers, valves, and tissues. Each part of the organ is involved in circulating your blood throughout your body, and damage to any of them can jeopardize your health.
Chambers
Your heart consists of four chambers. You have left and right atria located in the upper area of the heart and left and right ventricles in the lower area. The left and right sides are separated by a muscle wall known as the septum.
Blood enters your heart through the atria from your veins. It passes from the atria into the ventricles, which then pump the blood out of the heart.
The atria are thinner than the ventricles, as not as much force is needed to transfer blood between the chambers of the heart. More force is needed to pump blood out through the arteries.
The right atrium receives deoxygenated blood and passes it through to your pulmonary system via the right ventricle. Your left atrium receives oxygenated blood from your lungs, which is then pumped out from your left ventricle to the rest of your body.
Valves
Heart valves control the flow of blood through the heart, ensuring everything stays moving in the right direction.
Atrioventricular valves, also known as cuspid valves, are located between the atria and. ventricles. They close as the ventricles contract, preventing blood from flowing backward into the atria once it has passed into the ventricles.
Your heart also contains semilunar valves, which are located near the bases of the ventricles. These valves close and the ventricles relax, and these actions keep blood from flowing back into the ventricles after it’s been pumped out into your circulatory system.
Blood Vessels
Your heart is connected to many different blood vessels that carry blood to and from different cells and organs. These include both veins and arteries. While your veins bring deoxygenated blood back to your heart, your arteries pump oxygenated blood out of your heart and through your body.
Your largest artery, the aorta, brings blood to many different areas through smaller branches. You also have the superior and inferior vena cava, which bring deoxygenated blood back to the heart from your upper and lower body, respectively. Your pulmonary artery and veins carry blood between your heart and lungs.
Your heart needs oxygenated blood to function too. This is supplied by the coronary arteries.
How Heart Disease Interferes With These Functions
Heart disease interferes with the regular function of your heart by restricting blood flow. Plaque builds up in your arteries, causing them to narrow, which in turn, limits how much blood can pass through them.
Without proper oxygenation in your heart and other parts of your body, your cells won’t have the energy they need to function properly. This can lead to major complications, like a heart attack.
Improving Your Health Through Heart Disease Treatment
Thankfully, there are many ways to keep your heart healthy and prevent heart disease. Common heart disease treatments include following a heart-healthy diet, quitting smoking, and getting more exercise.
Final Thoughts
Properly caring for your heart allows it to function efficiently. The more heart-healthy choices you make, the easier it is for your heart to continue to oxygenate and circulate blood like it’s designed to do.
Dr. Loy Puckett, MD
Dr. Loy Puckett, MD, (Doctor Loy) is an Emergency Medicine Specialist, author, and entrepreneur. He not only takes care of patients but also presents medical content on a vast array of topics for anyone worldwide.
His goal is to unpack the latest medical knowledge in a way that can be easily understood and then utilized to improve general health. He has experienced firsthand that patients who understand their treatment options, including alternative natural remedies, have greater control over their own health and wellness.
Doctor Loy’s career spans almost 25 years of emergency medicine practice, including 10 years as the Medical Director for Moberly Regional Medical Center Emergency Department. During this time, he also applied his medical expertise to his own successful business of managing emergency physicians.
He has also created training products to teach solid strategies for affiliate marketing, email marketing, and digital marketing in multiple niches, including health, finance, and internet marketing.
Doctor Loy completed his medical studies at the University of Missouri – Columbia School of Medicine after earning his B.A. in Chemistry at the University of Missouri. He was on the Dean’s Honor List for 6 out of 8 semesters.
Above all else, Doctor Loy is a family man who loves to spend time with this wife and now grown children. He plays chess, enjoys playing poker with his regular Thursday group, binges on Netflix, and is always excited to watch his beloved basketball team, the North Carolina Tarheels. Go Heels!
Related articles:
5 Major Causes of Heart Disease You Should Avoid
Understanding Heart Disease’s Connection to Arrhythmias
3 Major Complications Caused by Heart Disease
Myocardial Infarction – Heart Attacks and Heart Disease
What Is the Best Heart Healthy Diet for Heart Disease?
Advances in Treating Cholesterol to Manage Heart Disease
How to Recognize the Symptoms of a Heart Attack
What Can You Do to Avoid Developing Heart Disease?
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