Chambers of the Heart

Blood pressure is the pressure of blood pushing against the artery walls. The systolic pressure is written above the diastolic pressure: 80/45	Systolic pressure is the pressure while the heart is pushing blood as the ventricle contracts.   Diastolic pressure is the amount of pressure while the heart is resting.
An infant’s blood pressure is about 80/45.  A 30 year old's blood pressure is about 120/80.  A 40 year olds blood pressure is 140/85. As we get age our blood pressure rises.  This is why it becomes increasingly important to monitor our blood pressure numbers. Pulse Rate, Metabolism, Size... & more Hearty facts Check this out! Compare the heart beats of a mouse, human and elephant.

Cardiac Cycle - I like the valve images, good visual.

Heart valves.

Anatomy of the Heart - Basic review - Path of the blood thru the heart - Cool imaging of beating heart.  (Covers coronary arteries.)

Go to 2:35 on the time bar to see heart cells in action - they synchronize too! More images of heart cells beating.  (Microscopic) At every stage of life, your heart is about the size of the fist you make when you close your hand.  For those of you that want more.....  lots of information on this About.com link. http://biology.about.com/od/humananatomybiology/ss/heart_anatomy.htm Capillaries, most of which are thinner than a hair - some so tiny, in fact, that only one blood cell can move through at a time.

Diabetes and High Blood Pressure (Plaque blocks arteries... Ht Attack/Stroke)	Atherosclerosis is plaque that builds up in our arteries.  The arteries will narrow due to this build up.  If it gets really bad, it could clog or block all together.  This is not good!

High blood pressure is the number one risk factor for congestive heart failure (CHF). CHF is a serious condition in which the heart is unable to pump enough blood to supply the body's needs.

	High blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart attack. The arteries bring oxygen-carrying blood to the heart muscle. If the heart cannot get enough oxygen, chest pain, also known as "angina," can occur. If the flow of blood is blocked, a heart attack results.
	As people get older, arteries throughout the body "harden," especially those in the heart, brain, and kidneys. High blood pressure is associated with these "stiffer" arteries. This, in turn, causes the heart and kidneys to work harder. The kidneys act as filters to rid the body of wastes. Over time, high blood pressure can narrow and thicken the blood vessels of the kidneys. The kidneys filter less fluid, and waste builds up in the blood. The kidneys may fail altogether. When this happens, medical treatment (dialysis) or a kidney transplant may be needed.
	High blood pressure can eventually cause blood vessels in the eye to burst or bleed. Vision may become blurred or otherwise impaired and can result in blindness.
	High blood pressure is the most important risk factor for stroke. Very high pressure can cause a break in a weakened blood vessel, which then bleeds in the brain. This can cause a stroke. If a blood clot blocks one of the narrowed arteries, it can also cause a stroke.