High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)

Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against the walls of your arteries.

  • The Golden Ratio: Normal BP is 120/80 mm Hg.

    • 120 (Systolic): The pressure when the heart pumps (squeezes).
    • 80 (Diastolic): The pressure when the heart rests between beats.

  • The Red Zone: If repeated checks show 140/90 or higher, it is called Hypertension.

  • Why is it dangerous? It’s a "Silent Killer". It damages the heart and can destroy vital organs like the Brain (stroke) and Kidneys (kidney failure).

Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)

  • Common Name: Atherosclerosis.
  • The Problem: Think of this as "Clogged Pipes". The arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle get narrow.
  • The Cause: Deposits of Calcium, Fat, Cholesterol, and Fibrous tissue build up inside the arteries.
  • Result: The heart muscle doesn't get enough blood to work properly.

Angina (Angina Pectoris)

  • The Symptom: Acute Chest Pain.
  • The Cause: Not enough Oxygen (O2O_2) is reaching the heart muscle.
  • Trigger: It usually happens when blood flow is affected (often due to blocked arteries).
  • Who gets it? It can happen to anyone, but it is much more common in middle-aged and elderly people.

The Big Three: Failure vs. Attack vs. Arrest

Students often confuse these three terms. Here is the critical difference:

A. Heart Failure (The Weak Pump)

  • Definition: The heart is beating, but it is too weak to pump blood effectively to meet the body's needs.
  • Key Symptom: Congestion of the lungs (fluid buildup). That’s why it is often called Congestive Heart Failure.

B. Heart Attack (Myocardial Infarction - The Damaged Muscle)

  • Definition: A part of the heart muscle dies or gets damaged suddenly.
  • Cause: Inadequate blood supply (usually due to a clot blocking an artery).

C. Cardiac Arrest (The Electrical Stop)

  • Definition: The heart stops beating completely.
  • Cause: An electrical malfunction causes the heart to stop working entirely. This is an immediate emergency.

Disorders of Circulatory System

  • BP Numbers: 120/80 is perfect. 140/90 is the danger zone.
  • CAD = Clogged: Deposits of Ca-Fa-Cho (Calcium, Fat, Cholesterol).
  • The Trio of Trouble:
    • Failure: Weakness (Like a tired runner).
    • Attack: Damage (Like a muscle tear).
    • Arrest: Stop (Like pulling the plug).
  • Angina: Is just a symptom (Pain), not a disease itself. It means "I need Oxygen!"

💡 Questions and Answers

Q1: What is the threshold for hypertension?

Answer: If a person’s BP is 140/90 mm Hg or more again and again on repeated checks, it is called hypertension.

Key Points:

  • ≥ 140/90
  • Repeated readings

Q2: Differentiate between heart attack and cardiac arrest.

Answer:

  • In a heart attack, blood supply to part of the heart muscle gets blocked, so the muscle gets damaged.
  • In cardiac arrest, the heart stops beating completely.

Key Points:

  • Heart attack = blockage → muscle damage
  • Cardiac arrest = heart stops

Q3: What causes coronary artery disease (CAD)?

Answer: CAD happens due to atherosclerosis, where fat, cholesterol, calcium and fibrous tissue get deposited in arteries and make the lumen narrow.

Key Points:

  • CAD = atherosclerosis
  • Deposits: fat + cholesterol + Ca + fibrous
  • Lumen narrows → less blood to heart muscle

Q4: Why is angina pectoris caused?

Answer: Angina happens when the heart muscle does not get enough oxygen, so it causes chest pain.

Key Points:

  • Less O₂ to myocardium
  • Chest pain

Q5: What is the normal systolic and diastolic pressure in humans?

Answer: Normal BP is 120/80 mm Hg.

  • Systolic: 120 mm Hg
  • Diastolic: 80 mm Hg

Key Points:

  • 120/80
  • Systolic = 120
  • Diastolic = 80