Frequently Asked Questions About Hearts
- Q: How do arteries get blocked?
- A: The real culprit is plaque. Plaque forms from high cholesterol and high fat content building up in the blood. Over time, plaque can fracture, causing an inflammation response in the body. Other components of blood stick to this area, and over time this can block arteries. Click here for more information on cholesterol's role in artery blockage.
- Q: What causes heart failure?
- A: Untreated high blood pressure can cause heart failure. Other causes are coronary artery disease (clogged arteries that make it harder for blood to reach the heart muscle, causing muscle damage), faulty heart valves and cardiomyopathy (heart muscle disease, in which the heart becomes enlarged, weakened and thickened, or stiff).
- Q: How is heart failure treated?
- A: The goal of treatment is to make it easier for the heart to pump blood. The doctor will recommend the most appropriate and effective option available, which may or may not include surgery, catheterization procedures, medication, diet and lifestyle changes.
- Q: Why do I feel so down after my heart surgery?
- A: Immediately following surgery, many people have a low red blood cell count, which can cause tiredness. The healing process also takes up energy. Some people do not feel as mentally sharp as usual right after hospitalization because of the sleep disruptions in the ICU and interruptions in their normal sleep patterns. Medications can cause grogginess, as well.
Around six weeks after surgery, some patients experience a feeling of depression that may be a consequence of the heart-lung machine, but this effect is not fully understood.
Heart surgery is a major stress, and it is normal to experience a wide range of emotions afterwards. It is important to bring this up with your doctor during an office visit, and with your clinician, if you are undergoing rehabilitation services.