facthwa.blogg.se - Cog heart book

Patients who fall into the following categories may be at increased risk for heart problems. These chemotherapies can sometimes cause problems with heart muscle function (cardiomyopathy) and abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias). The anthracyclines are a group of chemotherapy used to treat many children’s cancers. The heart can be affected by certain types of chemotherapy and by radiation therapy.

In severe cases, these problems may result in the death of heart tissue (heart attack or myocardial infarction) or an inability of the heart to pump blood properly (congestive heart failure).Ĭancer Treatments that Cause Heart Problems.

The blood vessels of the heart may become scarred or blocked ( coronary artery disease), preventing delivery of oxygen and nutrients to the heart and other tissues.

The protective covering of the heart may become inflamed ( pericarditis) or scarred ( pericardial fibrosis).

The valves and blood vessels of the heart may be damaged, causing them to be stiff or to leak ( valvular stenosis or insufficiency).

The electrical pathways that conduct impulses to control heart rhythm may be scarred or damaged resulting in an abnormally fast, slow, or irregular heart beat ( arrhythmias).

The muscle cells of the heart may be damaged so that the heart doesn’t pump normally ( cardiomyopathy).

A thin membrane (pericardium) surrounds and protects the heart and anchors it within the chest.

The rhythm of heart contraction and rate of the heartbeat are coordinated by nerves that send electrical impulses to different parts of the heart. Valves direct the flow of blood through the heart chambers and into the blood vessels. There are four chambers (two atria and two ventricles) within the heart that work together to pump blood. The heart is responsible for pumping blood with oxygen and nutrients to body tissues.

The heart is a muscular organ that is the center of the body’s circulatory system. And if a problem develops, it can be detected and treated early. That way, they can take steps to keep their heart healthy, including regular medical check-ups and tests to monitor heart function. Since heart problems may occur many years after cancer treatment, it is important for children’s cancer survivors to be aware of any treatments they received that can affect the heart. Most children’s cancer survivors do not develop heart problems however, certain types of cancer treatment can result in problems with the heart.