How does chaos theory explain heart attacks?

In summary, the heart is a organ that pumps blood through the body. When the blood flow is disturbed, the heart can become chaotic.
  • #1
Kateena
4
0
Hey everyone!

This is not exactly a homework question, but i would like to know anyway.. can anyone tell me how the heart works from physics point of view? Or the nervous system?

Any points would be great :)

thanks!
kateena
 
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  • #2
People, Be quiet ! I ain't no biologist !
Hah, Here, biological tracks, I guess my friend Kateena should look into some books on the topic of biomechanics for sufficient help.
I once saw a lot of them, but :redface: in my school library. Your school should have much more than mine.
 
  • #3
When our heart is working normally, it pumps fairly regularly, though it does change (when we exercise for example). It keeps its regularity through the use of feedback in the form of nerve signals.

When the purturbations on the heart are small, the feedback serves to regulate the heartbeat. However if the purturbation is large enough, for example due to a blocked artery, the feedback will no longer regulate the system and the heartbeat will become aperiodic and then finally chaotic. When the heart beats chaotically, it no longer pumps blood through the body. Medically it is called a myocardial infarcation, but it is commonly called a heart attack.

This is why heart attacks are caused by things such as blocked arteries, excess blood loss etc, anything that causes massive change in the blood flow of the body. High blood pressure and heart rate has the effect of magnifying any perturbations, which is why they are such high risk factors when it comes to heart attacks.

The descent from periodicity into chaos is actually observed in a huge variety of systems, not just heartbeats. There are many textbooks on chaos, also a quick web search should also yield some good information.

I'm not sure if that is what you were looking for, but I hope you find it interesting nontheless.

Claude.
 

1. How does the heart work?

The heart is a muscular organ that pumps blood throughout the body. It has four chambers - two atria and two ventricles. The right atrium receives oxygen-depleted blood from the body and passes it to the right ventricle. The right ventricle then pumps the blood to the lungs where it receives oxygen. The oxygen-rich blood then returns to the left atrium and is passed to the left ventricle. The left ventricle is responsible for pumping the oxygen-rich blood to the rest of the body.

2. What is the role of physics in understanding the heart?

Physics plays a crucial role in understanding the mechanics of the heart. The heart's pumping action is governed by the principles of fluid mechanics, such as pressure and flow. Additionally, the electrical signals that control the heartbeat can be studied using principles of electromagnetism. Physics also helps in understanding the forces and stresses on the heart's muscles and valves.

3. How is blood pressure related to physics?

Blood pressure is a measure of the force of blood against the walls of the blood vessels. This force is created by the pumping action of the heart and is influenced by various factors such as the diameter of the blood vessels and the volume of blood. According to the laws of physics, the relationship between pressure, volume, and flow rate are described by the equation P = Q x R, where P is pressure, Q is flow rate, and R is resistance. Understanding this relationship is essential in diagnosing and treating heart conditions related to blood pressure.

4. Can physics help in diagnosing heart diseases?

Yes, physics-based techniques such as echocardiography, magnetic resonance imaging, and ultrasound are widely used in diagnosing heart diseases. These techniques use sound waves and magnetic fields to produce images of the heart, providing valuable information about its structure and function. Physics also helps in developing new diagnostic tools and technologies for detecting and monitoring heart diseases.

5. How can physics be used to develop treatments for heart diseases?

Physics plays a crucial role in developing treatments for heart diseases. For instance, the principles of fluid mechanics are used in designing artificial heart valves and pumps. The use of magnetism is also being explored in developing new treatments for heart rhythm disorders. Additionally, physics-based imaging techniques are used to monitor the effectiveness of treatments and guide surgical procedures.

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