Where medical jargon gets simplified
Deconstructed Cardiology
Claim This Podcastby Gaurang_MD
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9 episodes
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Podcast Overview
Where medical jargon gets simplified
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🇺🇲
Publishing Since
12/22/2018
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Recent Episodes
November 14, 2021
Cardiac Amyloidosis
<br /> Link to diagnostic tool app: <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <a href="https://apps.apple.com/bw/app/cardiac-amyloidosis/id1596689064"></a><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.explainheart.cardiacamyloidosis2"></a><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Cardiac amyloidosis occurs when an abnormal protein — called amyloid — builds up in the heart tissue. This buildup makes it difficult for your heart to relax completely in between heart beats, making the heart stiff. This stops blood from getting into the heart. There is a “traffic-jam” of blood waiting to enter the heart all across the body, causing congestion. The congestion causes “leakage of fluid” from the blood into the tissues- manifesting as fluid in lungs, legs, various internal organs and elsewhere. The common symptoms are shortness of breath, swelling in legs, lethargy and loss of appetite. This is a progressive disease and an increasingly recognized cause of <a href="http://explainheart.com/2018/12/28/heart-failure-explained/">heart failure</a>.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Figure 1: Normal heart chamber squeezing and relaxing<br /> <br /> <br /> Read further to understand this in detail.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Normal heart:<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Heart is supposed to relax completely in-between heart beats. This allows the blood to enter the heart chambers, like a balloon blowing up with air (figure 1).<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> The relaxation of the heart is an equally important requirement to keep the blood moving forward in the continuous circuit around the body.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> The circuit around the heart:<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> This has been explained in details <a href="http://explainheart.com/2018/12/28/heart-failure-explained/">elsewhere</a><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> In brief, the blood goes around the body as shown in figure 2. Here, the left and right chambers are the chambers of the heart.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Figure 2: The journey of blood around the body<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> The issue with cardiac amyloidosis:<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> The essential problem is deposition of abnormal and sticky proteins (amyloid) in various organs which interfere with the function of that organ. When the deposition occurs in the heart, this is called cardiac amyloidosis.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Two main types of cardiac amyloidosis:<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> There are two main types of cardiac amyloidosis:<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> * Transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTR amyloidosis): This type results from mutated deposits of transthyretin, a protein made by the liver. The two subtypes of ATTR are:<br /> <br /> * Wild-type amyloidosis: Usually affects people in their 60s or older<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> * Hereditary amyloidosis: Runs in families and typically affects people in their 40s or older<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> * Light chain amyloidosis (AL amyloidosis): This type of amyloidosis is associated with blood cancers like multiple myeloma. It is not a type of cancer, but it is treated with chemotherapy.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> The type of amyloid protein deposited in the above two types of cardiac amyloidosis is completely different and formed by different mechanisms, however the essential problem is the same- abnormal protein deposition.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> AL amyloidosis<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> In AL amyloidosis, excessive abnormal antibodies are being formed by abnormal antibody-forming cells. The antibody forming factory has malfunctioned and starts manufacturing multiple batches of unusable antibodies. These antibodies belong to the same mould and are being manufactured in large quantities (figure 3). <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />
June 9, 2021
Marijuana and the heart – 1
<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> I am joined by Kathleen Faulkenberg who is a pharmacist in discussing about marijuana. We dive deep into understanding the concept of marijuana use, the different agents and effects. We discuss the potential benefits and bad outcomes and the role of current classification of marijuana as a <a href="https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/marijuana">schedule I controlled substance</a> in our understanding of this agent.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> All opinions expressed here are those of the author and not of the employer. Information provided here is for medical education only. It is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice. The discussion is not all-inclusive or exhaustive and individual patient findings may vary. Please review the <a href="http://explainheart.com/disclaimer/">disclaimer</a>.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />
April 8, 2020
Coronavirus (COVID-19) and the heart
<br /> Figure 1: Coronavirus<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> The first cases of the novel 2019 coronavirus (COVID-19) was reported in Wuhan, China in December 2019 1 and since has rapidly spread worldwide. In its essence, the virus is a non-living strand of protein called RNA enclosed in a fatty acid envelope.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> It appears spherical under an electron microscope and has certain particles on its surface which appear like a crown or ‘corona’ (figure 1). Coronavirus can affect the heart in several ways, many of which are still unknown, but the end result is direct injury, heart failure or death.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Why did COVID-19 become such a big deal?<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> The novel coronavirus has a totally new configuration. Human race has never been exposed to anything like it before, so the entire world population lacks any sort of immunity to this. It seems, every human is susceptible to be infected.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> In other words, humans lack antibodies against COVID-19. Antibodies are like special task forces, specialized to disable only one type of foreign cell or protein. These form in the body after an infection or vaccination and prevent future infections with the same organism. Just like the governments around the world are racing to make a vaccine, the human body has its own ‘vaccine lab’ called the plasma cells. Unfortunately, the plasma cells need time while they work on making antibodies. In the meantime, the body sends out its reserve forces against the virus. These soldier cells are not specialized to kill COVID virus and they use any possible means – machine guns, hand grenade, assault tanks against the virus, while the plasma cells can work on making antibodies. In most cases, this is enough to keep the virus suppressed while the antibodies are made. Once the antibodies are ready, the virus is destroyed and the patient recovers after suffering mild symptoms.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> In some cases though, the initial response is not enough and the organs (lungs, heart etc.) get caught in this cross-fire between the virus and the soldiers. The result is an overwhelming inflammatory response called a cytokine storm. Cytokines are a byproduct of the war raging inside the infected body. In low levels cytokines help to destroy the virus and only result in mild symptoms like fever. They activate soldier cells all over the body and recruit them to the affected area, like recruiting the military to calm riots inside the country. Cytokines have other favorable functions as well.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> However, when the virus levels rise, the war rages on, cytokines build up. Soldier cells all over the body get activated and infiltrate the organs. If the organs are already weak from an underlying disease or old age, they can fail.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Symptoms:<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> The common symptoms include fever (89% hospitalized patients), cough (68% patients), pain in the throat, headache, tiredness 2. In severe cases it can totally flood the lungs with fluid (pulmonary edema), severely affecting its function. Lungs are like sponge which allow free passage of air, but when soaked in water, no air can pass through. This is called severe acute respiratory distress syndrome or SARS.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> For an update on the likely symptoms, refer to the <a href="https://www.nih.gov/health-information/coronavirus">CDC website</a>.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Effect on the heart:<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> As mentioned above, heart can sustain collateral damage from the cytokines in some cases. There have also been reports of the virus directly injuring heart cells.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Just like the lungs, heart muscle can also get flooded with fluid (myocardial edema) 3 and soldier cells infiltrate the heart. These soldier cells that have been activated by the cytokines are like grenades with pins removed.
9 total episodes available
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