The heart - Pohl Boskamp

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The human heart beats around 100,000 times each day and pumps about 10,000 litres of blood through the body - day in, day out, every day of our lives.

This is an incredible image, especially when you consider that it is completely automatic and there is nothing visible driving it.

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If you imagine the blood circulation system of the human body as a road laid out in a figure of eight, then the heart – the most important muscle in the body – is the crossroads. Acting as a pump, it transports the blood along the ‘traffic arteries’, i.e. the blood vessels, throughout the body. And this is how it works:

The heart is surrounded by the heart sac (pericardial sac) and is divided into 2 halves (right and left) by a vertical, muscular wall (septum). Each half is subdivided into an upper chamber (atrium) and a lower chamber (ventricle). These four chambers are linked with each other by special ‘doors’, the heart valves. These act like mechanical valves, ensuring that the blood flows in one direction only. The blood returning from the body is low in oxygen and is pumped by the heart through the lower right chamber into the lungs. Here, it absorbs the oxygen from air breathed in, and then it returns to the left side of the heart. The oxygen-rich blood is pumped into the circulation through the main artery (aorta).

The main artery branches off into the body’s arterial system transporting blood into various vascular areas to supply the different organs with blood rich in oxygen. The oxygen-depleted blood returns via the veins to the right atrial chamber. Then the whole cycle begins again. Although it is always full of blood, the heart must be supplied with blood rich in oxygen by its own blood vessels, the coronary arteries.

The heart operates like a rhythmic pump. Heart action alternates between contracting (the technical name for this process is systole) and recovering or relaxing (diastole). The pacemaker activating this regular pumping action is known as the sinoatrial node.

This node emits measurable electrical impulses that reach all parts of the heart via a special impulse transmission system and ensure that all operations are properly coordinated. The electrocardiogram (ECG) is used to check this function. The pulse rate also depends on the number of impulses emitted by the sinoatrial node. Each pumping action of the heart triggers a pressure wave in the body which can be felt in the arteries as a pulse – especially on the wrist or the carotid artery (in the neck).

In adults, the heart beats on average 60–80 times per minute. The rate is higher in children. When viewing the work of the heart as a whole, however, it is not only important how often it beats or how much blood it pumps, but also at what pressure the blood is pulsing through the arteries. This is known as the blood pressure.

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Baldurat^® – Active ingredient: dry extract of valerian root (3 - 6 : 1) [extraction agent: 70% ethanol (V/V)]. Indicated for the treatment of restlessness and disturbances in going sleep of nervous origin. For information on risks and side effects, read the package leaflet and ask your doctor or pharmacist. G. Pohl-Boskamp GmbH & Co. KG, D-25551 Hohenlockstedt, Germany (July 2001).

Nitrolingual akut^® Spray – Active ingredient: glyceryl trinitrate. Composition: 1 metered dose oromucusal spray contains 0.4 mg glyceryl trinitrate. Other ingredients: medium-chain triglycerides and partial glycerides, ethanol anhydrans, peppermint oil. Indications: prophylaxis and treatment of acute attacks of angina pectoris, acute myocardial infarction, acute left-ventricular heart failure, catheter-induced coronary spasms. Contraindications: hypersensitivity to any of the ingredients or other nitrate compounds, acute circulatory failure, cardiogenic shock, marked hypotension (syst BP < 90 mmHg), intake of phosphodiesterase inhibitors for the treatment of erectile dysfunction or pulmonary arterial hypertension. Caution in cases of hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy, constrictive pericarditis, pericardial tamponade, low filling pressures (e.g. in cases of acute MI; avoid syst BP < 90 mmHg), aortic and/or mitral stenosis, orthostatic circulatory disorders, increased intracranial pressure. During pregnancy and breast-feeding, only after careful consideration whether the benefits outweigh the risks. Side effects: headache very frequent at the start of treatment, frequent hypotension with reflex tachycardia, drowsiness, dizziness and weakness. Occasional nausea, vomiting, flush, allergic skin reactions, marked decreases in blood pressure with exacerbation of angina pectoris symptoms, bradycardia with fainting. Very rare, exfoliative dermatitis. Development of tolerance and cross tolerance possible, avoid continuous high dosing. Hypoxaemia and ischaemia may occur in CHD. The ability to drive vehicles or operate machines may be impaired, especially in combination with alcohol consumption. PO. G. Pohl-Boskamp GmbH & Co. KG, 25551 Hohenlockstedt, Germany (1).

GeloMyrtol^® forte – Active ingredient: distillate of a mixture of rectified eucalyptus oil, rectified sweet orange oil, rectified myrtle oil and rectified lemon oil (66:32:1:1) (Myrtol^® standardized). Indicated for acute and chronic bronchitis and inflammation of the maxillary sinuses (sinusitis). For information on risks and side effects, read the package leaflet and ask your doctor or pharmacist. G. Pohl-Boskamp GmbH & Co. KG, 25551 Hohenlockstedt, Germany (01/6).

Laxopol^® 1.0 g – Active ingredient: refined castor oil. For the short-term treatment of constipation. Medical advice should sought for constipation that lasts for longer than 1 week. For information on risks and side effects, read the package leaflet and ask your doctor or pharmacist. G. Pohl-Boskamp GmbH & Co. KG, 25551 Hohenlockstedt, Germany (6).

GeloBronchial^®-Saft – Active ingredient: liquid extract of thyme. Indications: common cold like disorders of the airways with catarrh, alleviation of symptoms of bronchitis. Warning: Ingredients include invert sugar syrup and 6.3 Vol.-% alcohol. Diabetics: sugar content of 0.75 BEU per 15 mL syrup. For information on risks and side effects, read the package leaflet and ask your doctor or pharmacist. G. Pohl-Boskamp GmbH & Co. KG, 25551 Hohenlockstedt, Germany (01/11).

GeloDurat^®-Salbe – Active ingredient: eucalyptus oil and levomenthol. For external use to alleviate the symptoms of respiratory tract infections (common cold, hoarseness and uncomplicated bronchial catarrh). For information on risks and side effects, read the package leaflet and ask your doctor or pharmacist. G. Pohl-Boskamp GmbH & Co. KG, 25551 Hohenlockstedt, Germany (01/5).

Nitrolingual^® infus. – Active ingredient: glycerol trinitrate. Composition: 1 ml infusion solution contains 1 mg glycerol trinitrate. Other ingredients: glucose monohydrate (Ph.Eur.), 10% hydrochloric acid solution (for pH adjustment), water for injections. Indications: severe angina pectoris, acute myocardial infarction, acute left-ventricular heart failure, hypertensive crisis with acute heart failure, controlled hypotension. Contraindications: hypersensitivity to any of the ingredients or other nitrate compounds, acute circulatory failure, cardiogenic shock, toxic pulmonary oedema, marked hypotension (syst BP < 90 mmHg), disorders with increased intracranial pressure, intake of phosphodiesterase inhibitors for the treatment of erectile dysfunction or pulmonary arterial hypertension. Caution in cases of hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy, constrictive pericarditis, pericardial tamponade, low filling pressures (e.g. in cases of acute MI; avoid syst BP < 90 mmHg), aortic and/or mitral valve stenosis, tendency to orthostatic circulatory disorders, severe liver or kidney disturbances. During pregnancy and breast-feeding, only if prescribed by a physician. Side effects: headache very frequent at the start of treatment; hypotension with reflex tachycardia may occur. Occasional nausea, vomiting, flush, allergic skin reactions, marked decreases in blood pressure with exacerbation of angina pectoris symptoms, bradycardia with fainting and synopses. Very rare, exfoliative dermatitis. Development of tolerance and cross tolerance possible, avoid continuous high dosing. Hypoxaemia and ischaemia may occur in CHD. The ability to drive vehicles or operate machines may be impaired, especially in combination with alcohol consumption. PO. G. Pohl-Boskamp GmbH & Co. KG, 25551 Hohenlockstedt, Germany (July 2008).

GeloVital^® Lebertrankapseln – 0.5 g/1.0 g – Active ingredient: Codliveroil for general strengthening and invigoration. For information on risks and side effects, read the package leaflet and ask your doctor or pharmacist. G. Pohl-Boskamp GmbH & Co. KG, 25551 Hohenlockstedt, Germany (01/5/2).

GeloNasal^®- 0.05%/-Spray 0.10% – Active ingredient: xylometazoline hydrochloride. Indications: for local application in the nose. Contains the alpha-sympathomimetic xylometazoline. This substance narrows the blood vessels thereby reducing swelling of the mucous membrane. GeloNasal^®-Tropfen 0.05%: for children between 2 and 6 years; GeloNasal^®-Spray 0.10%: for schoolchildren older than 6 years and adults. For information on risks and side effects, read the package leaflet and ask your doctor or pharmacist. G. Pohl-Boskamp GmbH & Co. KG, 25551 Hohenlockstedt, Germany (01/13/13).

Gelo^®-Bronchialtee 400 – Active ingredients: dry extract of thyme (6.0 – 10.0:1) [70% (V/V) ethanol] and ivy leaves (4.0 – 7.5:1) [30% (V/V) ethanol]. Indications: common cold and upper respiratory tract infections (catarrh), alleviation of symptoms of bronchitis. For information on risks and side effects, read the package leaflet and ask your doctor or pharmacist. G. Pohl-Boskamp GmbH & Co. KG, 25551 Hohenlockstedt (01/01).