In patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertensionChronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension CTEPH is short for chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension, a rare form of high blood pressure in the lungs caused by blood clots or narrowed blood vessels. High blood pressure in the lungs is often also called pulmonary hypertension. (CTEPHChronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension CTEPH is short for chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension, a rare form of high blood pressure in the lungs caused by blood clots or narrowed blood vessels. High blood pressure in the lungs is often also called pulmonary hypertension.), the initial problem is in the lungs, but it quickly affects the heart, particularly the right side of the heart, which becomes overworked and weakened as it pumps blood through narrowed or blocked arteries in the lungs. If left untreated, it leads to heart failure and death (cor pulmonaleCor Pulmonale Cor pulmonale is a condition that occurs when the right side of the heart is overworked and weakened. In CTEPH patients, the initial problem is in the lungs, but it quickly affects the heart, particularly the right side of the heart. Due to blocked or narrowed arteries in the lungs, the right heart has to work extra hard to pump blood through the lungs, which over time, can lead to heart failure and death. [embed]https://youtu.be/UQGRcg35Dmk?t=20[/embed] References theHeart.org & Medscape Penn Medicine  ).

The heart is a vital organ that plays a crucial role in our overall health. Its basic role is to pump blood through the body. If the heart does not function properly, our bodies cannot receive the necessary blood flow, leading to serious health problems or even death.

Watch this excellent video by Dr. John Campbell explaining the structure and function of the heart in plain English.

This is an excellent video by Dr. John Campbell explaining the structure and function of the heart in plain English. There are more videos in this series.

Given the heart’s crucial role in our body, everyone needs to have a basic understanding of its structure and how it works.

Basic knowledge of the anatomy and functions of the heart can benefit CTEPH patients. Familiarizing yourself with the terminology will help understand your doctor’s explanations and how CTEPH impacts the heart.

By understanding the intricacies of your heart, you can make informed decisions regarding lifestyle choices affecting heart health. Ultimately, a basic knowledge of the heart can help people actively promote heart health and overall well-being.