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To understand how beta-blockers achieve their effects, imagine the heart as a van engine with a speed regulator fitted and adrenaline as the driver pressing down hard on the accelerator pedal. When you take a beta-blocker, it prevents the engine from racing even when the driver presses the accelerator hard down. The result is a slower top speed and, steadier “drive”—your heart beats more slowly, and the strain on the engine (your heart muscle) reduces.
Aspirin, or acetylsalicylic acid, is one of the oldest and most widely used medications in the world. Well known for its analgesic effects, it was later discovered to be effective in much smaller doses in preventing platelet aggregation that had a pivotal role in arterial thrombosis. Its role in inhibiting platelet activity has made it a cornerstone in the prevention and treatment of arterial thrombosis. In this article, we will explore the fascinating role of platelets in acute coronary thrombosis, the mechanisms by which aspirin exerts its protective effects, and the clinical considerations for its use.
An article written by Dr Edward Leatham, Consultant Cardiologist Tags: Podcast, AFib, Bradycardia, NH1 search website using Tags to find related stories. Introduction Pulse rate or heart rate is a fundamental metric of heart health. It’s easily accessible—whether through feeling the […]
A slow heart rate may not cause symptoms in many people. However, when bradycardia leads to insufficient blood flow, symptoms may arise. The causes of bradycardia are discussed and what constitutes a normal range. An associated podcast is available too.
In atrial fibrillation or AFib, the atrial tissue quivers at approximately 600 cycles per minute, which means that it has no useful pumping function. The left atrium therefore, in patients with atrial fibrillation, merely acts as a passive conduit between the lungs and the left ventricle. It no longer serves to prime the left ventricle, and as a result, less blood enters the heart during diastole, less 'priming' occurs so cardiac output may fall. If ever you have experienced a car's turbo charger going 'on the blink' you will know that the car still GOES, but not very well, since it too suffers loss of output. The left atrial pressure in many such cases will increase, causing oedema or fluid in the alveolar space, reducing gas exchange and contributing to the symptom of breathlessness.
Mammalian hearts, including humans, feature two atria - the left and the right. These chambers serve as reception areas, collecting blood before it's dispatched to the ventricles. This system bears a resemblance to a turbocharger in an engine, where the atria boost the heart's efficiency, preparing it for a powerful contraction.
As only 10% of patients with high blood pressure are 'salt sensitive' (meaning that the blood pressure fails to fall in 90% of hypertensives when salt intake is greatly reduced), it seems plausible that consuming high levels of sodium from a young age can “programme” the cardiovascular system to maintain higher blood pressure later in life.
Statins are a mind boggling biological 'ruse'. When this medication is taken orally, it causes liver cells to become deficient in essential cholesterol, so they respond by increasing the number of cell surface LDL receptors, thereby enhancing their capacity to extract LDL particles from the blood, significantly lowering circulating LDL levels. Statins remain the most effective and well-known way that doctors can lower LDL levels to prevent or treat coronary heart disease.
It is important that your blood pressure is well controlled, and low enough to prevent long term damage to the circulation.