Understanding Your Heart: A Guide to Cardiac Health

Your heart is much more than just a symbol of love—it’s a powerful engine that keeps your entire body running. Let’s simplify how the heart functions and how we can prevent disease with proactive health screening.

How the Cardiovascular System Works:

The cardiovascular system is composed of the heart and a vast network of blood vessels. The heart, a muscular organ, pumps oxygen-rich blood through arteries to tissues and organs, then receives oxygen-poor blood back through veins to be re-oxygenated in the lungs.

The heart works in close coordination with the lungs, vascular (veins and artieries) system and brain signalling. The lungs oxygenate the blood required to fuel the body, whilst the vascular system provides the pressure required for the blood to reach organs appropriately, including the heart itself.

The heart is a large and very strong muscle that pumps the blood through a duel chamber system around the body and lungs in complete coordination. This rhythm is set by the Sinus node (a natural pace maker for the heart) which generates an electrical impulse to set the pulse needed for the body.

A malfunction in any area can lead to disease – from the efficacy of the muscle pump, thechambers values, the electrical rhythm and vascular connecting system.

Common Cardiac Conditions

Heart Disease

Heart disease is a broad term covering conditions that affect the heart’s structure and function. It can result from blockages, genetic factors, or lifestyle habits, and may lead to further complications if untreated. Heart disease is usually diagnosed via an ultrasound image of the hearts structure and pumping ability, called an ECHOCARDIOGRAM.

Heart Failure

This condition occurs when the heart isn’t pumping blood as effectively as it should. Over time, the heart may struggle to meet the body’s needs, causing symptoms like fatigue and shortness of breath. This is a serious disease that will continue to worsen without immediate intervention and is difficult to reverse, and is much better to avoid with regular screening and positive cardiac

lifestyle choices.

Ischemic Heart Disease

Also known as coronary artery disease, ischemic heart disease happens when the blood vessels supplying the heart narrow or become blocked. This limits blood flow and oxygen to the heart muscle itself, increasing the risk of a heart attack. A heart attack is a period of time that the heart muscle is starved from oxygen and dies, therefore leading to heart failure or death. Ischemic heart disease can be avoided through good lifestyle choices and early medical intervention, including monitoring blood pressure, cholesterol and heart function.

Valve Disease

The heart’s valves ensure blood flows in the right direction. When they become damaged or diseased, the efficient flow of blood can be disrupted, potentially leading to complications like heart failure and difficulty breathing. An ECHOCARDIOGRAM and cardiology review is required to diagnose and consider minimally invasive cardiac surgery.

Arrhythmia

An arrhythmia is an irregular heartbeat. It can cause the heart to beat too fast, too slow, or erratically, sometimes leading to dizziness, shortness of breath, or even more severe health issues. This can easily be diagnosed with a ECG (ELECTROCARDIOGRAM) and treated with medication or a simple day case procedure.

Early Detection and Prevention

Early investigation is key to maintaining cardiac health. Routine health checks may include:

• Electrocardiograms (ECG): To monitor your heart’s electrical activity.

• Echocardiograms: Ultrasound imaging to assess heart structure and function.

• Stress Tests: To evaluate how your heart performs under physical strain.

• Blood Tests: To check for cholesterol levels and other risk factors.

  
  

These tests can detect subtle changes before symptoms become severe, allowing for early intervention and lifestyle modifications that may prevent progression of disease.

At the Family Doctor Group, we can offer a complete cardiac health check which includes all of the tests required to ensure your heart is healthy today and in the future. We also offer 24 hour monitoring of the heart’s electrical activity and blood pressure to ensure our investigations are very thorough. Our in-house Cardiology consultant will review all the results and advise on

prevention or cure options.

Schedule your health check today and give your heart the care it deserves. Your future self will thank you!