Cardiac reserve
Cardiac Reserve
Cardiac reserve (/kɑːrˈdiːæk rɪˈzɜːrv/), derived from the Latin words cardia meaning heart and reservare meaning to keep back, is a term used in medicine to describe the difference between the rate at which the heart can pump blood and its maximum capacity for pumping blood at any given time.
The cardiac reserve is not a fixed value, but rather, it varies depending on the body's need for oxygen. During periods of rest, the heart pumps just enough blood to meet the body's needs. However, during periods of intense physical activity or stress, the heart's pumping capacity can increase several times over its resting level. This increase is the cardiac reserve.
Factors Affecting Cardiac Reserve
Several factors can affect the cardiac reserve. These include:
- Age: As a person ages, their cardiac reserve tends to decrease.
- Physical fitness: Regular exercise can increase a person's cardiac reserve.
- Heart disease: Conditions such as coronary artery disease or heart failure can decrease the cardiac reserve.
- Stress: Both physical and emotional stress can affect the cardiac reserve.
Clinical Significance
The cardiac reserve is an important measure of the heart's ability to respond to increased demands for oxygen. A low cardiac reserve can be a sign of heart disease and can limit a person's ability to perform physical activities. On the other hand, a high cardiac reserve is generally a sign of good heart health.
Related Terms
- Stroke volume: The amount of blood pumped by the heart with each beat.
- Cardiac output: The amount of blood the heart pumps through the circulatory system in one minute.
- Ejection fraction: The percentage of blood that is pumped out of the heart with each beat.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Cardiac reserve
- Wikipedia's article - Cardiac reserve
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