Pathology of the Heart - Term Paper Example

Pathology of the heart The heart is integral in the circulatory system of living organisms. It helps in pumping the blood to all body parts through tiny tubing which are called the blood vessels. The heart does this by repeated and continuous contractions. Pathology deals with diseases study. Consequently, pathology of the heart is the study of heart related diseases. Myocardial infarction is basically called heart attack. It results due to discontinuation of blood flow in the heart or rather when sufficient blood supply does not reach the heart.

This condition kills the cells of the heart and is majorly a result of blockage in the artery that transports oxygenated blood (coronary artery) to the heart.There are two main types of myocardial infarction and these are transmural while the other is subendocardial infarction. The transmural can be further classified as anterior or posterior and is a result of insufficient oxygen supply in the heart (Ruben and Reisner 23-232). This heart condition is basically due to deposits of fats along the blood arteries causing blockage in the tubing.

As a result, more pressure is exerted to the heart during blood flow and this could lead to rapture of the blood vessels. It is also due to unbearable psychological stress or when one experiences physical exertion that exceeds the normal. Some research indicates that pneumonia and increased uses of antibiotics contribute to this heart condition. Some human activities contributing to this include excessive tobacco smoking as well as heavy alcohol drinking. Other factors contributing to heart failure are air pollution, diabetes, old age both in men and women, and proven genetic factors.

Socioeconomic factors like lack of education or low income generation also pose high risks of heart attacks. Women using more than one type of contraceptive pills and still smoke are at higher risk of heart attacks.Symptoms associated to this heart condition include abrupt pains in the heart often felt in the form of tightness or pressure. The pain is due lack of enough blood supply in the organ. This is a condition which is also known as angina pectoris. Other symptoms are difficulty in breathing as a result of limitation of left ventricle output and abnormal anxiety.

In addition, lack of concentration due to cerebral or brain shocks could be experienced (Bogaet and Dymarkowski 68-134). This heart condition could lead sudden death since the heart fails to supply the required amount of blood to various body parts. Women patients experience weakness as well as difficulty in digestion or even sleeping problems. However, a quarter of heart attack patients suffer silently without experiencing the chest pains. It becomes so difficult to detect this condition when the symptoms are not experienced but advanced use of electrocardiograms can be used.

This method tests the blood enzymes and is not associated to earlier complications. This silent suffering is common with the elders. Blood transplant among the diabetic patients is also associated with no pains hence symptoms difficult to notice. Other common signs are baldness, grey hair and increase in earlobe size. Heart attack can be prevented by continued regular exercise to consume the excess body fats, reduced alcohol consumption as well as smoking. Some drugs like aspirin can be taken to reduce chances of blood artery blockage (Labarthe 14-60).

Works CitedEmanuel Rubin, Howard M.Reisner. Essentials of Rubins pathology. Phidaldelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins, 2009. Print.Jan Bogaet, Stephen Dymarkowski & Andew M. Taylor. Clinical Cardiac MRI. New York: Springer-Heldelberg, 2012. Print.Labarthe, Darwin. Epidemiology and Prevention of Cardiovascular Diseases: A Global Challenge. United Kingdom: Jones and Barlette, 2011. Print.