Basic Life Support

Here i will share about basic life support. Recently basic life support/CPR class was held in chest hospital which attended by staff nurse,SDU and Nursing director. Class was brought by Dr Saad and Dr Khalid for 4 hour divided into 2 session, theory and practice.It was very interesting class,even though we already got this lecture when we were in the nursing college or even course in the hospital where we worked but still we need to learn more to make us more familiar,always remember and for refreshment of the new theory, as we know that knowledge is changing and improving

CPR IN ADULT
I would like to specify CPR in adult only.
There are 5 step that we usse to call DR ABC;

1.Danger

Before starting to help other we must check whether there is danger around ,for example fire, knife , leaking gas. if its there we must anticipate so it won't harm not only the victim but also for us as rescuer.we want help other but wont hurt us

2.Response

To make sure whether someone is really unconsius, we can call his/her names,and shake the shoulder,if there is no response we haave to call for help, ambulance/777 if posible then we go to next step


3.Airway

Directly open the air way with two technique:
-Head tilt chin lift maneuver if sure there is no neck injury other wise
-Jaw trust maneuver
the purpose are to open the obstruction of the tongue.
we have to make sure also whether there is foreign body like food or anything with cross finger technique .

4.Breathing
LOOK,LISTEN and FEEL the present of breathing,if none give 2 rescue breathing.

5.Circulation

Check the presence of carotid pulse by putting two finger on the carotid vein site, if none then start CPR by compressing the heart,to put the heel of one hand interlock with another hand, on the sternum just two finger above the xiphoid.
-for one rescuer give 2 breathing then 30 compression
-for two rescuer continuous compression with breathing every 4-6 second
(this is the latest one, as we know before 1 rescuer is 2 breath 15 compression, 2 rescuer 2 breath 5 compression).

When we have to stop CPR?
1.Patient gain breathing and circulation
2.Ambulance/medical team arrived
3.Rescuer is very tired, can't continue CPR
4.Patient died

*)pictures taken from http://depts.washington.edu

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What is cholesterol?

Cholesterol is a soft, waxy substance found among the lipids (fats) in the bloodstream and in all your body's cells. It's an important part of a healthy body because it's used to form cell membranes, some hormones and is needed for other functions. But a high level of cholesterol in the blood — hypercholesterolemia — is a major risk factor for coronary heart disease, which leads to heart attack.

Cholesterol and other fats can't dissolve in the blood. They have to be transported to and from the cells by special carriers called lipoproteins. There are several kinds, but the ones to focus on are low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL).


What is LDL cholesterol?

Low-density lipoprotein is the major cholesterol carrier in the blood. If too much LDL cholesterol circulates in the blood, it can slowly build up in the walls of the areries feeding the heart and brain. Together with other substances it can form plaque, a thick, hard deposit that can clog those arteries. This condition is known as atherosclerosis. A clot (thrombus) that forms near this plaque can block the blood flow to part of the heart muscle and cause a heart attack. If a clot blocks the blood flow to part of the brain, a stroke results. A high level of LDL cholesterol (160 mg/dL and above) reflects an increased risk of heart disease. If you have heart disease, your LDL cholesterol should be less than 100 mg/dL. That's why LDL cholesterol is called "bad" cholesterol. Lower levels of LDL cholesterol reflect a lower risk of heart disease.

What is HDL cholesterol?

About one-third to one-fourth of blood cholesterol is carried by HDL. Medical experts think HDL tends to carry cholesterol away from the arteries and back to the liver, where it's passed from the body. Some experts believe HDL removes excess cholesterol from plaques and thus slows their growth. HDL cholesterol is known as "good" cholesterol because a high HDL level seems to protect against heart attack. The opposite is also true: a low HDL level (less than 40 mg/dL in men; less than 50 mg/dL in women) indicates a greater risk. A low HDL cholesterol level also may raise stroke risk.

What is Lp(a) cholesterol?

Lp(a) is a genetic variation of plasma LDL. A high level of Lp(a) is an important risk factor for developing atherosclerosis prematurely. How an increased Lp(a) contributes to heart disease isn't clear. The lesions in artery walls contain substances that may interact with Lp(a), leading to the buildup of fatty deposits.

What about cholesterol and diet?

People get cholesterol in two ways. The body — mainly the liver — produces varying amounts, usually about 1,000 milligrams a day. Foods also can contain cholesterol. Foods from animals (especially egg yolks, meat, poultry, fish, seafood and whole-milk dairy products) contain it. Foods from plants (fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts and seeds) don't contain cholesterol.

Typically the body makes all the cholesterol it needs, so people don't need to consume it. Saturated fatty acids are the main culprit in raising blood cholesterol, which increases your risk of heart disease. Trans fats also raise blood cholesterol. But dietary cholesterol also plays a part. The average American man consumes about 337 milligrams of cholesterol a day; the average woman, 217 milligrams.

Some of the excess dietary cholesterol is removed from the body through the liver. Still, the American Heart Association recommends that you limit your average daily cholesterol intake to less than 300 milligrams. If you have heart disease, limit your daily intake to less than 200 milligrams. Still, everyone should remember that by keeping their dietary intake of saturated fats low, they can significantly lower their dietary cholesterol intake. Foods high in saturated fat generally contain substantial amounts of dietary cholesterol.

People with severe high blood cholesterol levels may need an even greater reduction. Since cholesterol is in all foods from animal sources, care must be taken to eat no more than six ounces of lean meat, fish and poultry per day and to use fat-free and low-fat dairy products. High-quality proteins from vegetable sources such as beans are good substitutes for animal sources of protein.

How does physical activity affect cholesterol?

Regular physical activity increases HDL cholesterol in some people. A higher HDL cholesterol is linked with a lower risk of heart disease. Physical activity can also help control weight, diabetes and high blood pressure. Aerobic physical activity raises your heart and breathing rates. Regular moderate to intense physical activity such as brisk walking, jogging and swimming also condition your heart and lungs.

Physical inactivity is a major risk factor for heart disease. Even moderate-intensity activities, if done daily, help reduce your risk. Examples are walking for pleasure, gardening, yard work, housework, dancing and prescribed home exercise.

How does tobacco smoke affect cholesterol?

Tobacco smoke is one of the six major risk factors of heart disease that you can change or treat. Smoking lowers HDL cholesterol levels and increases the tendency for blood to clot.

How does alcohol affect cholesterol?

In some studies, moderate use of alcohol is linked with higher HDL cholesterol levels. However, because of other risks, the benefit isn't great enough to recommend drinking alcohol if you don't do so already.

If you drink, do so in moderation. People who consume moderate amounts of alcohol (an average of one to two drinks per day for men and one drink per day for women) have a lower risk of heart disease than nondrinkers. However, increased consumption of alcohol brings other health dangers, such as alcoholism, high blood pressure, obesity, stroke, cancer, suicide, etc. Given these and other risks, the American Heart Association cautions people against increasing their alcohol intake or starting to drink if they don't already do so. Consult your doctor for advice on consuming alcohol in moderation(source:www.americanheart.org)

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Cardiac Surgery

There are three major categories of heart surgery. They are the following:
Valve replacement procedures
Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) procedures
Heart transplant

Surgeons worldwide are rapidly gaining experience with left ventricular reduction (heart reduction surgery) as a treatment for congestive heart failure and an alternative to heart transplantation.


Valve Replacement Procedures

Normal, healthy heart valves open easily, close securely, and do not allow blood flow to return through them once they are shut. There are four heart valves. Two control the inflow of blood to the ventricles from the atria; while the second set controls the outflow of blood from the heart to the body. Each of the heart valves are composed of two or three flaps of fibrous tissue called leaflets. The leaflets act as one-way doors opening to allow the flow of blood in one direction and closing to prevent the blood from backing up into chambers of the heart that it has just left.

The valves between the atria and ventricles (tricuspid on the right side and mitral on the left) have fibrous cords (chordae tendineae) that help the valve's overlapping leaflets to function by connecting them to the muscle wall of the ventricles. The valves that control the flow of blood from the ventricles to the arteries (pulmonary on the right side and aortic on the left) are cup-shaped structures that do not overlap. Other muscles or structures inside the heart do not help these valves.

Common problems with the heart valves include insufficiency due to a leaky valve and torn fibers (chordae tendineae) connecting the valve leaflets to the papillary muscles on the wall of the ventricles. Valve problems that may be present at birth are called congenital malformations. Injury, infection, or illnesses such as rheumatic or scarlet fever may cause problems with the heart valves. Another condition, called valvular stenosis, occurs when the heart valves become thick and stiff, thereby limiting their ability to function properly. The most common heart valve problem is stenosis of the aortic and mitral valves.

During surgery to correct or replace a defective heart valve, the patient is deeply anesthetized and the chest opened. A heart-lung bypass machine under the direction of a perfusionist and the anesthesiologist assumes the flow of blood throughout the body. The pumping action of the heart is stopped to allow the surgeon to make an incision in the heart, granting access to the defective valve. The surgeon will repair the valve or completely replace it with an artificial device. When a replacement device is installed, it is carefully sutured into place and checked before the heart is closed. Following the surgery, the patient will spend time in recovery and possibly an area of the hospital where they can be monitored. In most cases, the patient is ready to return home in a few days.

The success rate for heart valve surgery is high and continues to increase thanks to improved technology and surgical techniques. The operation provides symptom relief, usually improving both quality and quantity of life for the patient. Life-long anticoagulant therapy is required for patients with artificial heart valves. It is not unusual for the clicking of the mechanical heart valve to be heard in the chest.

Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG) Procedures

Coronary artery bypass graft surgery or CABG (pronounced "cabbage") is the most common open-heart procedure. This surgery provides relief to patients who have blocked or narrowed arteries due to atherosclerosis. The symptoms of atherosclerosis or "clogging of the arteries" often include the following:

* Shortness of breath upon exertion
* Chest pains or tightness in the chest
* Dizziness
* Feelings of nausea and sweats

As the coronary arteries continue to narrow, the blood supply to the heart muscle is reduced or blocked altogether. When this happens, the patient experiences a heart attack or myocardial infarction.
Bypass surgery provides alternative routes of blood flow around the narrowed regions of the coronary arteries, detouring the blockage. A blood vessel from another part of the body is sewn into place to route blood around the blockage, restoring normal blood flow to the heart muscle.

The most common source of this new pathway is a vein from the lower extremity called the Greater Saphenous Vein (or GSV), that runs from just inside the ankle bone to the groin. This vein is useful because it is long and straight, and since it is just one of a large series of veins in the legs, it's function may be easily assumed by the other vessels present in the legs. Another major vessel used for bypass grafts is the Left Internal Mammary Artery (LIMA). This vessel lies on the undersurface of the sternum (breastbone), making it easily accessed during surgery. The lower end may simply be detached and connected to one of the coronary arteries on the surface of the heart.

During surgery, the patient is deeply anesthetized and the chest opened. A heart-lung bypass machine under the direction of a perfusionist and the anesthesiologist assumes the flow of blood throughout the body. The pumping action of the heart is stopped to allow the surgeon to make the delicate connections of the bypass graft vessels to the coronary arteries. Depending upon the number and complexity of the grafts, the procedure may take from three to six hours. Following the surgery, the patient will spend time in recovery and then an area of the hospital where they can be monitored.

In most cases, the patient is ready to return home in less than a week. Typically, it takes another two to three weeks for most patients to feel stronger and regain normal body habits, such as appetite, sleep patterns, and bowel action. For patients in non-physical jobs, most can return to work within four to six weeks, depending upon their energy level. After full recovery, the most patients can return to a full and active lifestyle that includes moderate exercise, travel, and employment.

Over 200,000 coronary artery bypass graft procedures are performed annually in the United States alone. The vast majority of these patients have an excellent chance for a full recovery.

Heart Transplantation

With over 1,500 cases per year performed, heart transplants are the third most common transplant operation in the U.S. following cornea and kidney transplant procedures. A health heart is obtained from a donor who has suffered brain death, yet remains on life-support. A surgical team retrieves the healthy heart from the donor and transports it in a special solution that preserves the organ.

The recipient is placed into a deep sleep through general anesthesia. The chest is opened and the patient's blood flow rerouted through a heart-lung machine. The patient's diseased heart is removed and the donor heart stitched into place.

A heart transplant may be recommended for patients experiencing heart failure due to coronary artery disease; cardiomyopathy (thickening of the heart walls); heart valve disease with congestive heart failure; and severe congenital heart disease. Heart transplantation surgery is not recommended for patients who have kidney, lung, or liver disease; insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus; or other life-threatening diseases.

The heart transplant procedure is effective in prolonging the life of a person who otherwise would die due to heart disease. Worldwide, approximately 80% of heart transplant patients are alive two years after the procedure.

Graft rejection is the main post-operative problem facing transplant patients. Immunosuppressive medications must be taken indefinitely. The immune system of the body views the transplanted heart as a foreign body and fights it as though it were a major infection. The immunosuppressive drugs inhibit the body's attempts to reject the donor heart; however, they also weaken the body's ability to defend itself against various common infections.(source:cardioconsult.com)

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Cardiac Risk Factor

By far, the most effective way to lead a "Heart Healthy" lifestyle is to gain an understanding about Cardiac Risk Factors and take steps to minimize their impact upon your life. Cardiac Risk Factors are characteristics or traits that reliably predict a person's chances of developing atherosclerosis or coronary artery disease. The greater the number or severity of Cardiac Risk Factors that apply to you, the higher your chances are for cardiovascular disease. By identifying these Cardiac Risk Factors and taking active steps to reduce their number or severity, you help lower the risk of developing a cardiovascular condition.


When polls are taken the importance of health and life span are at the top of the list. But we still continue to take risks with our health. What motivates us to take risks with our well being? In the first place, we often hope and believe that our behavior will not affect us. We believe that the negative consequences from our actions apply to the other person. We take our health for granted. Secondly, risky activities have rewards of their own. It may seem glamorous, sociable, and fun. And finally, the consequences of risks (especially in the area of cardiac risk factors) don't show up immediately. The consequences occur later in life.

So what are these cardiac risk factors? Is there anything we can do about them? If so, how can we change to lower our risks? After all, our health and life span are certainly at the top of our priority list!
Risk Factors for Coronary Artery Disease
Not controllable or modifiable risk factors
Heredity
Gender
Age
Controllable or modifiable risk factors
Smoking
High Blood Cholesterol
High Blood Pressure
Obesity
Physical Inactivity
Stress and Behavior
These risk factors cannot be controlled or modified:
Heredity

We certainly can't change heredity. We have no control over who brought us into this world. But we certainly need to realize that if our parents had heart disease at an early age, we are much more likely to develop coronary artery disease. We also have to realize that families pass on more than genes. A recent study indicated that people with a family history of coronary artery disease have two times the risk of having a significant elevation in cholesterol. The types of food, exercise habits, and exposure to smoking also run in families. But it does not mean that we just sit back and do nothing. If we have heart disease "in our family" we need to do everything to reduce our other risk factors - we should eat right, exercise, don't smoke, control our blood pressure and diabetes, and decrease stress levels.

Gender

Males have a higher incidence of heart disease at an earlier age. This is the predominant reason that there are four times as many women over the age of 80 than men. However, after the onset of menopause, the incidence of cardiovascular disease in women more closely approximates that of men. Generally, this means that women tend to develop problems with heart disease 10 years later than men.

As more women enter the work force and assume the lifestyle habits of their counterparts (increased smoking, stressful work place, etc.,), the incidence of heart disease in younger women has increased.

The fact that menopause coincides with when women begin to catch up to men in the area of incidence of heart disease has led to a great deal of research. The question is asked - Can we preserve the lower risk for women for a longer time? This has led to much research on the effect of estrogen replacement (hormonal) therapy and heart disease. It is certainly worth discussing the pros and cons with your doctors.

Age

Even though the risk of heart disease increases with age, it does not mean you can't do anything about it. A change in lifestyle with modification of risk factors has been shown in many studies to be helpful at any age. In fact, one study suggested that discontinuing smoking after age 60 may add 5-7 years to our life.
Risk factors that can be controlled or modified:

Smoking

Smoking is the leading cause of preventable illness and death in the United States. That's right, this is enemy #1 on the list of things that lead to poor health and decreased life span. In fact, 20% of all deaths in this country are attributable to smoking. The good news is that the number of people smoking has decreased.
The bad news is that this decrease is not fast enough and more and more young people are picking up this addictive habit. If you want to know why you should quit smoking or hopefully never start, look at the table below:

Disease Increased Risk to Smokers
Lung Cancer 700 - 1500%
Emphysema 100 - 3000%
Larygeal Cancer 500 - 1300%
Esophageal Cancer 400 - 500%
Blader Cancer 100 - 300%
Coronary Disease 100 - 300%
Peptic Ulcer 100%

Questions remain over smoking:

1. Is it worth quitting?

After you quit, the risk of heart disease decreases dramatically within two years.
If you quit after 50, the chance of dying is reduced in half over the next 15 years.
If you quit after 60, you add 5-7 years to your life span.

2. Can I quit?

Yes you can! It won't be easy because nicotine is an addictive substance. But thousands of people do it every day. Get help! Ask your doctor, nurses, and pharmacists. Find out about resources to help you.

3. I have tried and I failed before! Why should I try again?

Less than a quarter of people who quit smoking are able to do it on their first try. Most take 3-4 tries.

4. What about the cravings?

Most cravings last less than 20 minutes. Try to have a plan on what to do until the urge goes away.

5. I can't stand the irritability, lack of concentration, and frustration.

Consider quitting on a vacation or at least make less demands on yourself. Give yourself a break.

6. But I will gain weight!

Studies show that one-third of ex-smokers gain weight, one-third lose weight, and one-third stay the same weight. Of the group that gains weight, only 10% keep the increased weight. However, it will take will power to keep from substituting food for cigarettes. An exercise program could help.

7. What if I can't sleep?

Avoid naps during the day and only go to bed when tired. Avoid caffeine and exercise at night. If you don't fall asleep within 30 minutes, get up for a while and read a book.

High Blood Cholesterol

Unfortunately, a significant number of people in this country have elevated cholesterol levels. This is one of the reasons why heart disease is by far the leading cause of death in the United States. Recent large studies indicate that a 1% increase in cholesterol leads to a 2% increase in the risk of heart disease. And we have answered the question of whether reducing cholesterol is worthwhile for us. Several large studies in Europe indicate that reducing cholesterol to target levels (LDL < 100 in people with known heart disease and <130 in people with high risk for heart disease) leads to nearly one-third less deaths, heart attacks, angioplasty (balloon) procedures, and heart bypass surgery.

Controlling cholesterol levels may require changes in diet and may even involve drug treatment. The following "Heart Smart" hints from the Willis-Knighton Heart Institute may help:

* Have plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables available.
* Serve whole grain bread and cereals.
* Use low-fat milk and low-fat yogurt. Choose cheeses that are lower in fat.
* Include starchy foods like potatoes, rice and pasta often.
* Skip toppings like butter, margarine, gravy, and sour cream that add extra fat and calories. Try using grated Parmesan cheese, herbed cottage cheeses or low-fat yogurt toppings instead.
* Select lean meats like chicken, turkey, fish, lean beef cuts (top round, eye of round, top loin & sirloin, lean hamburger) and lean pork cuts (tenderloin, loin chops, and ham). Trim off all visible fat and remove skin from poultry.
* Choose margarine and vegetable oils like canola, corn, sunflower, soybean and olive oils.
* Try angel food cake, frozen fruit bars, or low-fat frozen yogurt in place of rich creamy desserts.
* Use non-stick vegetable sprays to reduce added fat when cooking.
* Use fat-free cooking methods like baking, broiling, grilling, poaching, or steaming when preparing meat, poultry and fish.
* Serve vegetable- and broth-based soups. Or, use low-fat milk when making cream soups.

There are many drugs that are relatively safe to use to lower cholesterol. Many people are unable to reduce their cholesterol to desirable levels despite a good diet. This is not failure on your part. It is because our body makes too much cholesterol internally and our cholesterol increase is not totally dependent on our diet. This is where medication such as HMG Co-A Reductase Inhibitors, Cholestyramine, Niacin, and Lopid become useful. You need to ask your doctor about these drugs if necessary.

High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure can have a negative effect on your vital organs. The elevation of blood pressure especially affects your heart, brain, and kidneys. It makes the heart work harder and leads to increased risk of heart attack, stroke, and kidney failure. It is ideal to keep your top number (systolic pressure) < 140 and bottom number (diastolic pressure) < 90. However, these goals cannot always be reached as we get older and will be balanced against symptoms of overly aggressive lowering of the blood pressure. We also realize the blood pressure can be elevated as a result of the stress of a doctor visit. This "white coat" hypertension often leads physicians to have your blood pressure recorded outside of this stressful environment.

Obesity

Being overweight (especially > 30% above our ideal body weight) leads to an increased incidence of heart disease. This is because of the added work load to our heart as well as increase in high blood pressure, diabetes, and elevated cholesterol. Just losing weight can "cure" high blood pressure, diabetes, and elevated cholesterol in some people.

Physical Inactivity

Physicians have become more convinced that regular exercise is important in the prevention of heart disease. Recent studies show a 30% reduction in coronary artery disease in those who exercise regularly in comparison to those people with a sedentary lifestyle. Examples of aerobic activity include walking, jogging, cycling, swimming, rowing, cross-country skiing, stair climbing, and dancing. At the least, we should strive to do aerobic exercise for 20-30 minutes 3-5 times a week. Walking 10-20 miles per week will accomplish our goal. And it is important to realize that we don't have to run marathons to get benefit. Any exercise is better than no exercise at all. We should not get discouraged when we don't reach our goals immediately.

Stress and Behavior

Research has shown that people that respond with anger and impatience are at an increased risk of heart attack. "Hot reactors" respond with intense constriction of blood vessels and high blood pressure. Changing behavior is important and there are many helpful resources in the bookstore and library, as well as counseling and pharmacological management. Personally we would recommend Steven Covey's bestseller, "Seven Habits of Highly Effective People" as a place to start.(source:www.cardioconsult.com)

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Heart disease: Disease that affect the heart and cardiovascular system

When you think of heart disease, usually people think of coronary artery disease (narrowing of the arteries leading to the heart), but coronary artery disease is just one type of cardiovascular disease.

Cardiovascular disease includes a number of conditions affecting the structures or function of the heart. They can include:

* Coronary artery disease (including heart attack)
* Abnormal heart rhythms or arrythmias
* Heart failure
* Heart valve disease
* Congenital heart disease
* Heart muscle disease (cardiomyopathy)
* Pericardial disease
* Aorta disease and Marfan syndrome
* Vascular disease (blood vessel disease)


Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the U.S. It is important to learn about your heart to help prevent heart disease. And, if you have cardiovascular disease, you can live a healthier, more active life by learning about your disease and treatments and by becoming an active participant in your care.

Coronary Artery Disease

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is atherosclerosis, or hardening, of the arteries that provide vital oxygen and nutrients to the heart.

Abnormal Heart Rhythms

The heart is an amazing organ. It beats in a steady, even rhythm, about 60 to 100 times each minute (that's about 100,000 times each day!). But, sometimes your heart gets out of rhythm. An irregular or abnormal heartbeat is called an arrhythmia. An arrhythmia (also called a dysrhythmia) can involve a change in the rhythm, producing an uneven heartbeat, or a change in the rate, causing a very slow or very fast heartbeat.

Heart Failure

The term "heart failure" can be frightening. It does not mean the heart has "failed" or stopped working. It means the heart does not pump as well as it should.

Heart failure is a major health problem in the U.S., affecting nearly 5 million Americans. About 550,000 people are diagnosed with heart failure each year. It is the leading cause of hospitalization in people older than 65.

Heart Valve Disease


Your heart valves lie at the exit of each of your four heart chambers and maintain one-way blood-flow through your heart.

Examples include mitral valve prolapse, aortic stenosis and mitral valve insufficiency.

Congenital Heart Disease

Congenital heart disease is a type of defect in one or more structures of the heart or blood vessels that occur before birth.

It affects about 8 out of every 1,000 children. Congenital heart defects may produce symptoms at birth, during childhood and sometimes not until adulthood.

In most cases scientists don't know why they occur. Heredity may play a role as well as exposure to the fetus during pregnancy to certain viral infections, alcohol or drugs.

Cardiomyopathies

Cardiomyopathies are diseases of the heart muscle itself. People with cardiomyopathies have hearts that are abnormally enlarged, thickened and/or stiffened. As a result, the heart's ability to pump blood is weakened. Without treatment, cardiomyopathies worsen over time and often lead to heart failure and abnormal heart rhythms.

Pericarditis

Pericarditis is inflammation of the lining that surrounds the heart. It is a rare condition often caused by an infection.

Aorta Disease and Marfan syndrome

The aorta is the large artery that leaves the heart and provides oxygen-rich blood throughout the body. These diseases and conditions can cause the aorta to dilate (widen) or dissect (tear), increasing the risk for future life-threatening events:

* Atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries).
* Hypertension (high blood pressure).
* Genetic conditions such as Marfan Syndrome.
* Connective tissue disorders (that affect the strength of the blood vessel walls) such as, scleroderma, osteogenesis imperfecta, polycystic kidney disease and Turner's syndrome.
* Injury.

People with aorta disease should be treated by an experienced team of cardiovascular specialists and surgeons.(source:www.webmd.com)

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