Cardioprotection

Cardioprotection (/ˌkɑːrdioʊprəˈtɛkʃən/) refers to the mechanisms and strategies that protect the heart from damage, particularly in the context of ischemic injury and reperfusion injury. The term is derived from the Greek words kardia, meaning heart, and protego, meaning to cover or shield.

Etymology

The term "Cardioprotection" is derived from two Greek words. Kardia (/ˈkɑːrdiə/), meaning heart, and protego (/prəˈtiːgoʊ/), meaning to cover or shield. Thus, the term essentially refers to the protection of the heart.

Mechanisms of Cardioprotection

There are several mechanisms through which cardioprotection can be achieved. These include preconditioning, which involves exposing the heart to brief periods of ischemia to make it more resistant to subsequent ischemic events, and postconditioning, which involves applying brief periods of ischemia immediately after the ischemic event. Other mechanisms include the use of pharmacological agents and gene therapy.

Related Terms

Ischemia: A condition in which there is insufficient blood flow to the heart muscle to meet its metabolic demand.
Reperfusion: The restoration of blood flow to an ischemic area.
Preconditioning: A phenomenon where the heart is made more resistant to ischemic injury by exposing it to brief periods of sub-lethal ischemia.
Postconditioning: A strategy of intermittently interrupting blood flow in the early phase of reperfusion to reduce reperfusion injury.
Pharmacological agents: Drugs used to treat or prevent disease.
Gene therapy: The use of DNA as a drug to treat disease by delivering therapeutic DNA into a patient's cells.

External links

Medical encyclopedia article on Cardioprotection
Wikipedia's article - Cardioprotection

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Cardioprotection