Coronary Heart Disease
Coronary arteries supply blood to the heart muscle itself. They are the first branches attached to the main artery which leaves the heart- the aorta- and sit like a crown on the heart’s surface hence the name coronary.
Coronary arteries supply blood to the heart muscle itself. They are the first branches attached to the main artery which leaves the heart- the aorta- and sit like a crown on the heart’s surface hence the name coronary.
The normal heart has 4 one way valves which make sure that blood goes forward not backward with each beat.
High blood pressure is a common condition which affects 1 in 5 Australians during their lifetime and if left untreated increases the risk of serious health problems including stroke, heart failure and kidney failure.
The heart pumps blood into the lungs (pulmonary circulation) and the rest of the body (systemic circulation) simultaneously.
The heart is made up of muscle fibres generating small electrical currents. The co-ordination of these electrical currents results in a wave like action that causes the heart to beat.
The aorta and its major branches distribute the blood which is pumped out of the heart with each beat and circulates around the body before returning to the heart via the veins.
Cancer treatment with chemotherapy and or radiotherapy can have adverse effects on the heart and circulation, both during treatment and for years afterwards.
Congenital heart disease is usually something identified early in life and may have a genetic or inherited basis.
Sleep apnoea is a type of breathing disorder which occurs during sleep. Breathing occurs automatically in healthy individuals but can become disordered in various ways as part of different conditions.