‘The Silent Killers’
by
Dr Caroline Gray PhD
Amazing Heart Facts !
The Human Heart Beats:
100,000 times in one day.
35 million times in a year.
> 2.5 billion times during an average lifetime.
Amazing Heart Facts!
Every day the heart expends enough energy to drive
a truck 20 miles. In a lifetime, this would be
equivalent to driving to the moon and back.
The heart pumps about 1 million barrels of blood
during an average lifetime
Amazing Heart Facts!
Your body has about 5.6 L of blood, this 5.6 L of
blood circulates through the body three times every
minute.
In one day, the blood travels a total of 12,000 miles.
Amazing Heart Facts!
Aorta is the largest artery in the body, is almost the
diameter of a garden hose.
Capillaries are so small that it takes ten of
equal the thickness of a human hair.
them to
Anatomy and Physiology of the
Cardiovascular System
Biology of the Heart and Blood Vessels
Heart is a hollow, muscular pump that is divided into 4
chambers:
2 upper atria collects the blood that enters the heart and push it to
the ventricles.
2 lower ventricles push blood out of the heart and into the arteries
to go to the rest of the body.
Function of the Heart
The heart's primary functions are to supply oxygen to the body
and to rid the body of waste products (CO2).
Heart collects O2-blood from the body and pumps it to the
lungs, where it picks up O2 and drops off CO2.
Heart then collects the O2-enriched blood from the lungs and
pumps it to the tissues of the entire body.
How does Blood Move Through the Heart?
During each heartbeat, each heart chamber relaxes as it fills, a period
called relaxation (diastole), and then contracts as it pumps blood, a
period called contraction (systole).
The two atria relax together and contract together, and the two
ventricles relax together and contract together.
How your Heart Works
The Blood Vessels
Arteries: Carry blood away from the heart.
Strong, elastic & flexible.
 Blood pressures,  diameter.
Veins:
Carry blood back to the heart
Thin-walled, less elastic.
Blood pressures,>  diameter.
What Make’s Up Blood?
Plasma: 92% H2O + vitamins, proteins
& hormones.
RBC: Haemoglobin transports O2.
Platelets: Cell fragments, repairs blood
vessels & triggers clotting.
WBC: Body's defence against infection.
Did you Know That………
Heart and circulatory disease is the UK’s biggest
killer !
Key Facts
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the main cause of death in the UK
accounting for nearly 300,000 deaths a year:  1 in 2 of all deaths.
The main forms of CVD are coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke.
About half of all deaths from CVD are from CHD and about a quarter are
from stroke.
Key Facts
CVD is also the main cause of premature death: 40% of premature deaths
in men and 30% of premature deaths in women are from CVD.
Whereas mortality from CHD is rapidly falling, morbidity is not falling and
may be rising.
What is coronary heart disease?
Narrowing of coronary arteries by fatty deposits on inside wall.
Reduces flow of blood to the heart and increases the chances of a
blood clot blocking the artery, resulting in a heart attack.
How does CHD affect people?
As the coronary arteries narrow, patients will often experience chest
pain or tightness, known as angina.
This pain may spread to the left shoulder or arm, or to the neck and
jaw and occurs at times of exercise, stress, or strain, particularly in
cold weather.
What is a Stroke?
Stroke is a sudden interruption in the blood supply
of the brain:
Abrupt blockage of arteries leading to the brain = ischaemic stroke.
Bleeding into brain tissue when a blood vessel bursts = hemorrhagic
stroke.
How does Stroke affect people?
Strokes may cause sudden weakness, loss of sensation, or difficulty with
speaking, seeing, or walking.
Sometimes people with stroke have a headache, but stroke can also be
completely painless.
Who is at risk of CVD?
Decades of research have shown factors that contribute to the development of heart
and circulatory problems.
Many deaths could be prevented because CVD is related to certain aspects of
lifestyle.
Although medical treatments for CVD have come a long way, controlling these
factors remains the key to preventing illness and death from CVD.
Things you can change: Things you cannot change:
Family History
High blood pressure
Gender
Cholesterol
Age
Diabetes
Race
Diet
Being overweight
Lack of exercise
Stress
Smoking
Excessive alcohol intake
What is Blood Pressure?
What is High Blood Pressure?
High blood pressure, is when the force of the blood against the
artery walls is too great.
High blood pressure occurs when blood vessels become narrow or
rigid, forcing the heart to pump harder to push blood through the
body.
When blood pressure remains high, it puts an unnecessary strain
on the heart and blood vessels.
What are the Symptoms of High Blood
Pressure?
One of the reasons high blood pressure is so dangerous is that it has
no symptoms.
High Blood Pressure = Silent Killer !
People with high blood pressure occasionally complain of; headaches,
nose bleeds and shortness of breath. The only way to know if your blood
pressure is high is to have it checked regularly.
Classification of
Hypertension
Systolic
(mmHg)
Diastolic
(mmHg)
Normotension
<130
and/or
<85
High Normal
130-139
and/or
85-89
Stage 1 (mild) HT
140-159
and/or
90-99
Stage 2 (moderate) HT
160-179
and/or
100-109
Stage 3 (severe) HT
180-209
and/or
110-119
Stage 4 (very severe) HT
210
and/or
120
What's so bad about High Blood Pressure?
How Can I Reduce My Blood Pressure?
Eat Healthily ( Sodium intake)
Maintain Ideal Weight
Exercise Regularly
Reduce Stress Levels
Drug Therapy:
Diuretics
Beta-blockers
ACE Inhibitors
What is Diabetes?
Diabetes = a high level of glucose, or "sugar,"
in your blood.
Type 2 or 'non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus’ is the most common
type of diabetes.
Accounts for 90- 95% of all diabetes.
It usually develops after the age of 40.
What Causes Diabetes?
In diabetes the pancreas makes insulin, but the body is unable to use it
efficiently.
When the insulin does not work efficiently, glucose is unable to enter
the cells adequately, and too much glucose builds up in the blood.
The result is that the tissues and organs of the body cannot function
properly and become damaged.
What are the Symptoms of Diabetes?
Sometimes, people with Type 2 diabetes don't notice
any symptoms.
Diabetes = Silent Killer !
Or, the symptoms are experienced gradually. They
include:  blurry vision






cuts or sores that are slow to heal
itchy skin, yeast infections
increased thirst
dry mouth
need to urinate often
leg pain
What's so bad about Diabetes?
Diabetics more likely to have high blood pressure and high blood
cholesterol.
Diabetes that is not controlled properly can lead to the development
of kidney disease, blindness, nerve and blood vessel damage, and
difficulties in fighting infection.
So you can see how important it is to keep
your diabetes under control.
How Can I Control My Blood Glucose?
Appropriate Diet
Regular Exercise
Weight Control
Drug Therapy:
Insulin Replacement Therapy
Oral Hypoglycemic Drugs
What is Cholesterol?
Cholesterol is a fatty substance (a lipid) that is an important part of the
outer lining (membrane) of cells in the body of animals.
Cholesterol is also found in the blood circulation of humans.
The cholesterol in a person’s blood originates from two major sources,
dietary intake and liver production.
What is High Cholesterol?
Cholesterol,
like oil, cannot dissolve in the blood unless it is
combined with special proteins called lipoproteins.
Cholesterol + VLDL = LDL
Cholesterol+ HDL = HDL
LDL cholesterol is called "bad" cholesterol, because elevated LDL
cholesterol is associated with an increased risk of coronary heart
disease.
How dose High LDL contribute to heart
disease?
LDL cholesterol builds up on the inside of your arteries, it forms
plaque causing the arteries to harden.
Atherosclerosis,
causes the arteries to become thicker, harder, less
flexible and less efficient at transporting blood.
When blood flow is drastically impaired (or stopped
completely), a heart attack can result. When blood
flow to the heart is restricted, angina (chest pain) can
result.
What should my Cholesterol level be?
These are the cholesterol levels recommended by the National
Cholesterol Education Program.
Risk Category
With heart disease
No heart disease but with 2 or more
risk factors
No heart disease and fewer than 2 risk
factors
LDL
Cholesterol
Total
Cholesterol
100 mg/dL or
less
Under 130
mg/dL
Under 160
mg/dL
160 mg/dL or
less
Under 200
mg/dL
Under 240
mg/dL
What are the Symptoms of High
Cholesterol?
You cannot feel cholesterol or the effects it can
have on your arteries and your heart, until it is
probably too late!
High Cholesterol has no symptoms.
High LDL = ‘Silent Killer’ !
So you can see how important it is to keep
your cholesterol level under control.
How Can I Reduce My Cholesterol?
Low-Fat Diet
Regular Exercise
Weight Control
Drug Therapy:
Statins
Food For Your Heart
 Saturated Fat Intake
Eat at least 5 portions of Fruit & Vegetables
 Heart-friendly Antioxidants
 Fibre & Starch Consumption
 Sodium Intake
 Refined Sugar Intake
Get Active
Your heart is a muscle, it needs regular exercise to
make it strong and work its best.
Regular exercise will:
Improve the balance of fats in your blood.
Strengthen your heart muscles.
Lower your resting BP levels.
Use up calories to help weight control.
Help you to relax and ease stress.
Follow A Regular Exercise Program
To get good results, exercise must be:
Regular: At least three times per week
Aerobic: Involve the large muscle groups and be repetitive (such as
walking, swimming, rowing)
Safe: Ask your doctor what type and amount of exercise is right for
you, before you begin an exercise program
Maintain A Desirable Weight
Carrying excess weight increases your risk of heart disease.
Check healthy weight using the Body Mass Index (BMI) calculator.
BMI = Weight (Kg)  Height (m)
Acceptable Range 18.5 to 25
Maintain A Desirable Weight
The more you weigh, the harder your heart must
work to carry and nourish the excess weight. To lose
weight, you need to take in fewer calories than you
use.
Look at your present eating habits
Cut down on foods high in cholesterol and saturated fats.
Beware of fad diets.
Weight management should be permanent and gradual.
If you need assistance in planning or maintaining a weight-loss program, talk to
your doctor or dietician.
Alleviate Stress
Stress puts an additional strain on the heart. It triggers
the release of adrenaline which in turn increases both
heart rate and blood pressure.
The key to successfully manage stress levels:
Avoid situations or people which upset you.
Make time to relax
Get enough sleep
Take up a hobby
Exercise
Read your Bible
Pray
Smoking: Poisoning the Heart
Accelerates atherosclerosis.
Provokes thrombosis
Inhibits thrombolysis
Reduces exercise capacity
Smoking is a Heart Breaking Habit,
Quit Now !
Alcohol’s Effects on the Heart
Numerous studies suggest that moderate alcohol
consumption helps protect against heart disease.
On
the other hand, heavy drinking, particularly
over time, can damage the heart.
That's
why doctors will tell you “If you don't
drink, don't start”.
Risk
Summary
factors play a significant role in
identifying your risk of developing CVD.
Lifestyle
modification and drug treatment
can help control modifiable risk factors.
Conclusion
Don’t leave your health of your heart to chance.
Take responsibility for your health before it’s too late !!