In order for life to continue, the human body must maintain a level of consistency in the metabolic processes that are constantly occurring. Only slight fluctuations in metabolic processes are tolerable to the human body. Once beyond the slight fluctuations, diseases and disorders become evident. Thibodeau states that the effort of the human body to maintain the internal environment within certain limitations is termed homeostasis. Bodily functions such as temperature, salt content, pH levels, fluid volume, fluid pressure, and oxygen level must remain within narrow limits (14). The cardiovascular system is of vital importance in helping maintain homeostasis.
In order to understand the important role the heart has in maintaining homeostasis, one must first understand the basic anatomy of the heart. The heart has been described by some as a rough triangular shaped organ, approximately the size of a closed fist, with an exaggerated point at the bottom left. There are four chambers of the heart; the upper two chambers are termed the atria, and the lower two chambers are termed the ventricles. Likewise, the chambers are named accordingly for the left or right side of the body: right atrium, left atrium, right ventricle, and left ventricle (Thibodeau 302).
The heart is a muscular organ that pumps blood throughout the body on a regular and ongoing basis. Blood is carried away from the heart and back to the heart by tube like structures called blood vessels. The vessels that carry blood away from the heart and to body organs and tissues are arteries. Veins are the blood vessels that carry blood back to the heart from the organs and body tissues (Thibodeau 311).
When the heart is not able to pump blood effectively, a disease known as congestive heart failure (CHF) can develop. CHF is a common condition; approximately 5 million people in the United States have heart failure. Approximately 300,000 deaths per year are attributable to congestive heart failure (What is 1). Congestive heart failure is not just a disease of the elderly; both children and adults can suffer from CHF. In addition, males and females can be struck with CHF (What 1).
CHF is a disease that does not develop overnight; rather, it is a progressive disease that develops over years as the heart grows weaker (What 1). CHF is a result of other diseases or conditions that over time cause the heart muscle to sometimes enlarge, weaken, and stretch to the point to where the heart cannot pump blood effectively to meet the demands of the body. Some diseases that often (but not always) cause damage to the heart muscle resulting in CHF are: coronary artery disease, heart attack (MI), high blood pressure or hypertension (HTN), faulty heart valves, cardiomyopathy, myocarditis, congenital heart defects, abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias), side effects of chemotherapy, hypo/hyperthyroidism, emphysema, lupus, diabetes, viruses that attack the heart muscle, severe infections, and blood clots (Heart failure 1).