Systole: From 3 Different Sources
A period of muscular contraction of a chamber of the heart that alternates with a resting period known as diastole. tabes dorsalis A rare complication of untreated syphilis that appears years after infection. The condition causes abnormalities of sensation, sharp pains, incoordination, and incontinence. tachycardia An adult heart rate of over 100 beats per minute. The average heart rate is 72–78 beats per minute. Tachycardia occurs in healthy people during exercise. At rest, it may be due to fever, anxiety, hyperthyroidism, coronary artery disease, high caffeine intake, or treatment involving anticholinergic or diuretic drugs. There are various types of tachycardia, which originate in different areas of the heart; the types include atrial fibrillation, sinus tachycardia, supraventricular tachycardia, and ventricular tachycardia. tachypnoea An abnormally fast rate of breathing, which may be caused by exercise, anxiety, or lung or cardiac disorders.
The contraction of the HEART. It alternates with the resting phase, known as DIASTOLE. The two occupy, respectively, about one-third and two-thirds of the cycle of heart action.
n. the period of the cardiac cycle during which the heart contracts. The term usually refers to ventricular systole, which lasts about 0.3 seconds. Atrial systole lasts about 0.1 seconds. —systolic adj.
The relaxation of a hollow organ. The term is applied in particular to the HEART, to indicate the resting period between the beats (systole), while blood is ?owing into the organ.... diastole
Cardiac arrest occurs when the pumping action of the heart stops. This may be because the heart stops beating (see ASYSTOLE) or because the heart muscle starts contracting too fast to pump e?ectively (ventricular systole, the period when the heart contracts). Coronary thrombosis is the most frequent cause of arrest. Irreversible brain damage and death result without prompt treatment. Heart massage, de?brillation and arti?cial respiration are customary treatment. Other causes of cardiac arrest are respiratory arrest, anaphylactic shock and electrocution. Up to one-third of patients treated in hospital whose heart rhythm is restored recover to an extent that enables them to return home. (See APPENDIX 1: BASIC FIRST AID – Cardiac/respiratory arrest.)... cardiac arrest
(Dysrhythmia). A heart beat irregularity caused by disturbance of the conducting mechanism. Arrhythmias may present as atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, bradycardia, tachycardia or palpitation most often due to premature beats (extra systoles). See entries. ... arrhythmia
An awareness of the heartbeat. Increase in the normal rate of sudden onset or lasting a few hours, with or without vertigo or fainting. Temporary acceleration may be common, often entirely innocent. Where the beat reaches 100 to 140 per minute it is likely to be due to sinus tachycardia, but higher rates, 180 plus, of sudden onset and offset are due to paroxysmal tachycardia from an abnormal focus of rhythm in atrium or ventricle.
May be caused by anxiety, exercise, smoking, alcohol, caffeine, anaemia, thyroid disorder, a specific fever or presence of a ‘coronary’. Extra-systoles may be felt as a thumping in the chest. May also be caused by excessive digitalis therapy.
Treatment. Where due to shock (Passion flower), overstrain (Ginseng), flatulence (Chamomile), sense of oppression in the chest (Hawthorn), suffocation (Aconite), worse lying on the left side (Cactus), highly sensitive women (Pulsatilla), mental depression (Cactus), congestion of the lungs (Lobelia).
Tea. Combine equal parts – Motherwort and Passion flower. 1-2 teaspoons to each cup boiling water; infuse 15 minutes; 1 cup as necessary.
Tablets/capsules. Chamomile, Hawthorn, Lobelia, Mistletoe, Motherwort, Pulsatilla, Passion flower (Passiflora), Valerian.
Formula. Equal parts: Lily of the Valley, Passion flower. Dose: Powders: 500mg (two 00 capsules or one-third teaspoon). Liquid extracts: 1 teaspoon. Tinctures: 2 teaspoons. Thrice daily in water or honey. Practitioner. Tincture Aconite, BPC 1949. Dose: 0.12 to 0.3ml (2 to 5 drops). OR:– Spartiol (Broom) 20 drops thrice daily. (Klein).
Diet. See: DIET – HEART AND CIRCULATION.
Vitamin E. One 400iu capsule (or tablet) daily.
Minerals. Magnesium 300mg daily. ... palpitation
A contraction of the heart that pumps blood to the lungs and the rest of the body. The different parts of the heart contract in a precise sequence that is brought about by electrical impulses that emanate from the sinoatrial node at the top of the right atrium. Three phases make up a cycle of 1 heartbeat: the diastole (resting phase), the atrial systole (atrial contraction), and the ventricular systole (ventricular contraction). The rate at which contractions occur is called the heart-rate. The term pulse refers to the character and rate of the heartbeat when it is felt at certain points around the body (at the wrist, for example).... heartbeat
the impact of the heart against the chest wall during *systole. It can be felt to the left of the breastbone, in the space between the fifth and sixth ribs.... apex beat
n. a noise, heard with the aid of a stethoscope, that is generated by turbulent blood flow within the heart or blood vessels. Turbulent flow is produced by damaged valves, *septal defects, narrowed arteries, or arteriovenous communications. Heart murmurs can also be heard in normal individuals, especially those who have hyperactive circulation, and frequently in normal children (innocent murmurs). Murmurs are classified as systolic or diastolic (heard in ventricular *systole or *diastole respectively); continuous murmurs are heard throughout systole and diastole (also known as *machinery murmurs because of their characteristic sound).... murmur
n. the period in the cardiac cycle just preceding systole.... presystole
n. the short period in the cardiac cycle between the end of systole and the closure of the *aortic valve marking the start of diastole.... protodiastole
narrowing of the opening of the aortic valve due to fusion of the cusps that comprise the valve. It may result from previous rheumatic fever, or from calcification and scarring in a valve that has two *cusps instead of the normal three, or it may be congenital. Aortic stenosis obstructs the flow of blood from the left ventricle to the aorta during systole. Breathlessness on effort, angina pectoris, and fainting may follow. The patient has a systolic *murmur. When symptoms develop the valve should be replaced with a mechanical or biological prosthesis, either surgically or via a catheter (see transcatheter aortic valve implantation).... aortic stenosis
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