8/15/22

 Things I learned today:

1.) A defibrillator is meant to help with ventricular fibrillation. It helps it stop abnormally quivering so that the ventricles of the heart can contract blood again.

2.) Heart disease deaths are going down in America, likely due to the general public being more informed about heart disease, and more medical technology helping save lives of individuals with heart disease.

3.) Infected gums contribute to heart disease. Bacteria in the mouth have been detected in the plaques that cause heart disease.

4.) Heart disease is the leading cause of deaths in America. 50% of heart disease deaths are due to Atherosclerosis.

5.) Atherosclerosis is a type of arteriosclerosis ("artery narrowing")

6.) Purpose of cholesterol: structural components of cell membranes, building block of several different hormones, and precursor of bile salts. 20% of cholesterol is consumed from meals, and 80% is created by the liver with materials from carbohydrates and fats. Because of this, a healthy diet to prevent atherosclerosis is a diet low in cholesterol, saturated fats, trans fats, and sugar.

7.) Cholesterol is delivered with TG (triglycerides) in a lipoprotein. Lipoproteins can either be high density (HDL), or low density (LDL)

8.) LDL cholesterol carries the kind of cholesterol that binds to artery walls and creating plaques. Typically, LDL receptors on the surface of the liver take up LDL and the cholesterol within it to maintain a healthy level of LDL and cholesterol. However, if there is too much cholesterol in the blood, the LDL receptors get overwhelmed and are not able to collect LDLs, leading to cholesterol build up in the artery walls. 

9.) HDL is responsible for picking up excess cholesterol in the blood and delivering them to the liver. This is why HDL is considered "good" and LDL is considered "bad"

10.) Familial hyperlipidemia (FH) is a genetic condition in which the liver is unable to produce LDL receptors, so LDL cholesterol rapidly builds up in the blood. It is common for individuals with this condition to have heart attacks at a young age. Treatment = liver transpant.

11.) cholesterol level of under 200 indicates low risk of CHD (coronary heart disease). 240 or higher is a double risk. However, this doesn't indicate the entire risk because if the cholesterol level is made up of majority of HDL cholesterol, the risk of CHD is actually lower compared to if there is more LDL in the blood. Formula: total cholesterol / HDL: if greater than 4.5, there is an increased risk of heart disease. a level of about 4.5 is normal. A level below 4.5 is considered low risk. 

12.) HMG-CoA is an enzyme that manufactures cholesterol in the blood. Statin medications inhibt this enzyme, greatly decreasing the amount of cholesterol in the blood. Statin medications are one of the top-selling medications. 

13.) Normal HDL level: 35-60, considered protective. 

14.) Trigycerides above 400 = high

15.) The heart uses 20% of the oxygenated blood (despite its small size). This is due to the heart continuously working at all times.

16.) Commotio cordis: concussion to the heart

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