Know How the Harmful Drug Vioxx Affects the Heart and Circulatory System

The side effects of vioxx in the heart can be severe. To help you better understand the vioxx side effects and the heart on vioxx, your Vioxx lawyers have provided a helpful diagram. If you feel you may have suffered harm or injury due to Vioxx use, please fill out this simple form for a FREE case evaluation.

The heart is a chambered muscular organ that is a part of the circulatory system, which includes:

This muscular pump is slightly larger than a fist and expands and contracts about 100,000 times in a given day pushing through approximately 2,000 gallons of blood. The heart is comprised of four chambers of which the upper two portions are called the right and left atria and the lower two are called the right and left ventricles. Since blood only flows in one direction throughout the body, there are four valves that open and close to regulate the flow.

The tricuspid valve is between the right atrium and right ventricle and it keeps blood from flowing back into the right atrium.
The pulmonary or pulmonic valve is between the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery and it prevents flow of blood back into the heart.
•The mitral valve is also called the bicuspid valve between the left atrium and left ventricle and it prevents blood in ventricle from flowing back into the atrium.
Last but not least in importance is the aortic valve that is located between the left ventricle and aorta and prevents blood from flowing back into the heart.

Blood:

Blood is a fluid consisting of plasma, blood cells and platelets that delivers essential nutrients and materials to cells throughout the body and removes their waste products.
The heart pumps blood by an organized sequence of contractions and pushes blood throughout the body as follows:

The right atrium receives blood from the veins (this is blood that has already passed its nutrients and oxygen to parts of the body that need these substances).
• When the heart is relaxed, blood pours into the open tricuspid valve filing the right ventricle.
• An electrical signal is sent to the heart which causes the atria (both right and left) to contract.
• After the atrium contracts the right ventricle follows with a contraction that causes the tricuspid valve to close and pumps the blood into the pulmonary artery through the pulmonary valve and into the lungs where it is oxygenated and then moves into the left atrium.
• Another electrical signal is sent to the heart which causes the atria to contract (both right and left).
• The blood that is now oxygenated from the lungs passes through the mitral valve and into the left ventricle from the left atrium.
• A split second after the atria contracts, the left ventricle with a contraction and pumps the blood oxygenated blood through the aortic valve into the aorta and through to the body''s tissues. Definitions:

Aorta: the main portion of the systemic arteries that carries blood from the left portion of the heart into the arteries and then to most parts of the body except for the lungs.

Systolic: the contraction of the heart mostly from the ventricles, where the blood is driven through the aorta and pulmonary artery after diastole.

Diastolic: the rhythmic relaxation of the heart mostly from the ventricles when they are filled with blood.

Vein: a blood vessel that forms a branching system to carry deoxygenated blood back to the heart.

Blood: a fluid that is comprised of plasma, blood cells, and platelets that is circulated by the heart and throughout the vascular system carrying with it nutrients and taking away waste material from the body tissues.

Lung: a respiratory organ that works together with the heart to remove carbon dioxide and provide blood with oxygen.

Artery: is the major route to which local blood vessels flow and they are muscular elastic vascular tubes that carry oxygenated blood away from the heart to various parts of the body.

Arteriole: is a small branch of the artery system and connects to capillaries.

Venule: is the smaller branch of veins that connect to capillaries and to larger veins and takes away deoxygenated blood and waste to their respective organs.

If you or a loved one has suffered due to a side effect of Vioxx, you can fill out this simple form for a free case review within 24 hours.

Weitz & Luxenberg is no longer accepting Vioxx cases.

see also:

Heart Attack Heart Attack - One of the most severe side effects of Vioxx
Heart attack - one of the major risks of the harmful drug Vioxx

Cardiac Sudden Death Cardiac Sudden Death - a major threat from the Vioxx pain med
Vioxx may lead to Cardiac Sudden Death - Are you at risk?

Side Effects Are you at Risk for Dangerous Vioxx Side Effects? Find out here.
Vioxx Side Effects: Heart Attack & Stroke are among the Most Dangerous