Patient Brochure for Cardiovascular System

AFTER YOUR HEART ATTACK

The heart is a large , hollow organ made of muscle that has four chambers : 2 upper chambers and 2 lower chambers . The upper chambers take in blood , while the lower chambers pump out blood through your whole body . A network of arteries and veins help to carry the blood throughout your body . Your heartbeat is controlled by an internal electrical system that sends signals from the right upper chamber to the left upper chamber , and then down to the lower chambers

Sometimes the heart can develop problems that

prevent it from working properly . One example is a heart attack , which you suffered . This pamphlet will explain the factors that led to the heart attack , and what changes you can make in your lifestyle to prevent another heart attack One factor that can cause a heart attack is high blood pressure . This condition occurs because of fatty substances building up in your arteries . As more fat builds up , the artery gets blocked , reducing the blood that can flow through it . This reduced blood flow causes the heart to not get enough oxygen , causing the heart attack to occur

A second factor is cholesterol . There is good cholesterol and bad cholesterol . When you have a very high level of bad cholesterol in your blood , it leads to a build up of plaque in your arteries . This build up can lead to blockage and hardening of your arteries . A third factor is smoking . Smoking increases the rate of your...