The world of medicine and clinical treatment is growing. Similarly, there is a rapid pharmacological research and discoveries geared towards solving medical problems. It is therefore prudent to ensure that medical practitioners put on the elaborate guidelines which govern procedures of drug testing. This is because the rate of innovation is rapidly driven by the current decryption of the human genome, discoveries in genes, and synthesizing proteins, which have made drug design possible. Hospitals and medical professionals are working around the clock to discover new and efficient ways to increase people’s access to medical services (Kaplan, Manuck, Adams, & Weingand 1987). In this regard, laboratory drug testing and clinical drug testing comes in handy. This paper takes a succinct analysis of literature review on human heart function, the related heart diseases, and recent pharmacological interventions alongside the practical knowledge on the matter. In addition, the paper looks into the clinical and laboratory-based trials to test the debated Heartaslowin drug. This calls for literature review in the subject and the analysis of the existing treatment of a high heart rate.
Heart rate is important in analysis of human life. In the situations when it is too high or low, it signifies a problem in functioning. “Chronic disease and preventable illnesses account for approximately seventy two per cent of annual health care costs” (Korshunov & Berk 2004). The primary persistent diseases and preventable illnesses that lead to high health care costs in many countries are cardiovascular diseases. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cited in Korshunov & Berk (2004), there are three “modifiable health-damaging behaviours” that impact health care costs. These include tobacco use, sedentary behaviours, and poor eating.
It is very important to look into the functioning of the heart and complications related to it. In addition, the high heart rate treatment is in core of this paper. This will help in unravelling the mystery behind the factious drug Heartaslowin which, Dr. Magoo claims, reduces a high heart rate and could be a wonder drug in this medical line.
Human Heart
The human heart is one of the most crucial organs in human body. It is really like a pump, comprised of muscle that pumps blood to the body. The heart normally beats at a rate of approximately 72 times per minute. According to Brouillette, Grandy, Jolicoeur, & Fiset (2007), “blood carries materials which help our bodies function and removes the waste products that we do not need”. For instance, the human brain requires a lot of oxygen and glucose for it to function adequately. It is therefore crucial that it gets those elements continuously; and the only way to do it is through the circulation of blood. “The body muscles of human being need oxygen, glucose and amino acids, as well as the proper ratio of sodium, calcium and potassium salts in order to contract normally” (Korshunov & Berk 2004). In addition, the glands require sufficient supplies of raw materials from which to manufacture the specific secretions. In this regard, when the heart ceases to pump blood, the human body will shut down, essentially meaning the death.
The main function of the heart therefore is to pump and move blood around the body to nourish every cell. Ciccarelli, Cipolletta, Santulli, Campanile, Pumiglia, and Cervero (2007) assert that, “used blood is drawn from the body by the right half of the heart.” In this cycle, “blood that has been re-oxygenated by the lungs is drawn into the left side of the heart and then pumped into the blood stream” (Diaz, Bourassa, Guertin, and Tardif 2005). It is the function of the atria to draw blood from the lungs and body, after which the ventricles pump it to the lungs and body. This is because diseases which are associated with the heart have great negative effects to the body. Recently, there is high prevalence of heart disease and this has caused more attention to the medical world.
Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD)
Du, Feng, Gao, Tan, Kiriazis, and Dart, (2004) highlight that, “heart related diseases; for instance, Peripheral Arterial Disease is a cause of significant morbidity and mortality in the Western world”. At present, risk factors reduction, modification, endovascular and surgical revascularisation are the available options for treatment of the heart problems. Despite this fact, many patients still need major medical surgeries. According to Drouin, Thorin-Trescases, and Falck (2007), “there is evidence that nitric oxide and its endogenous inhibitor asymmetric dimethylarginine play significant roles in the pathophysiology of PAD”. Peripheral arterial disease is an acute problem which affects the vascular system (Du, Feng, Gao, Tan, Kiriazis, and Dart 2004). Nitric oxide has several elements responsible for the reduction of high blood pressure. Diaz, Bourassa, Guertin, and Tardif (2005) explain that, “nitric oxide has the capability of resting vascular disorders”.
Causes of a High Heart Rate
A number of factors are suggested by medical practitioners as the main causes of a high and fast heart rate. Consequently, the causes of a fast heart rate are categorized into two broad areas. These areas include the person’s adoption of some harmful aspects of behaviour and the abnormality in the heart structure. For instance, excessive content of thyroid is believed to cause a high pulse rate. This high rate of the heart can result in heart failure. Heart failure is a clinical disorder which is prompted by the failure of the ventricles to eject blood (Gendron, Thorin-Trescases, Villeneuve, & Thorin 2007). The main symptom is fatigue in a patient. High pressure in the left ventricular is the primary cause of pulmonary pressure and therefore, it is necessary that a patient be administered nitrate together with sublingual tablets, which have an effect of reducing pressure (Kannel 1987).
There has been a heated debate coupled with clinical and laboratory experiments to ascertain whether lowering heart rate reduces incidence of cardiovascular death (Kannel 1987). This medical claim necessitated an experiment on Ivabradine drug. A population of 6,500 patients from 40 countries were randomly given Ivabradine and then put under monitoring. In this experiment, more than half of the population sample responded well to the drug. It is therefore prudent to note that Ivabradine can reduce the negative impact of heart failure, as the drug helps with a higher percentage than a placebo.
Ivabradine drug is known to reduce heart rate; therefore, the knowledge test for it is quite relevant in the situation of Heartaslowin, a new wonder drug which reduces a high heat rate. This drug will similarly be tested as Ivabradine. The testing knowledge of Ivabradine gives us the benchmark against which we base our clinical and laboratory tests (Kannel 1987). It is to this particular benchmark of Ivabradine testing and intervention that Heartaslowin drug of Dr. Magoo is subjected.
The claim by Dr Magoo that Heartaslowin lowers heart rate and, at the same time, seems to alter gastrointestinal motility. This drug must undergo clinical and laboratory testing and should conform to already existing results. The claim that Heartaslowin slows heart rate should also confirm the existing medical procedures and requirements. Background and purpose of the study is to do a laboratory and clinical test for Heartaslowin, which is claimed to reduce heart rate. A high heart rate is a major cause for most of cardiovascular mortality globally (Kannel 1987). The test of the hypothesis that the reduction of a high heart rate with Heartaslowin can prevent the endothelial disorder related with dyslipidaemia is therefore critical.
Laboratory testing is done to determine whether the drug Heartaslowin contains the required compounds that will induce the slowing of a high heart rate. The test will include male mice, which represents the human in this experiment. One mouse is put under treatment with Heartaslowin in a small potion. The other mice are put as controls. The heart rate of all the mice are recorded and processed. The heart rate of the mice is monitored, measured, and recorded over a period of six months. It was thus observed that there was a heart rate reduction in mice during the treatment with Heartaslowin which reduced a high heart rate. It is quite important in a gauging the negative effects which are associated with a high heart rate (Dyer, Persky, Stamler, & Paul 1984).
Beta receptors
Beta receptors are divided into two categories and that is beta1 and beta2. Beta receptors regulate the metabolism of fatty acids in the body (Dyer, Persky, Stamler, & Paul 1984). The receptors which are majorly used to activate the myocardial function of the heart are called beta1.This knowledge is critical in understanding the components of Heartaslowin and how it induces its function in the body. Beta receptors and Alpha receptors are quite important in this study.
Beta Blockers
According to Kannel (1987), “beta1 receptor is responsible for increase of the heart and rate and myocardial contraction”. Beta1 has the capability of increasing the rate contraction force. In addition, Beta1 receptor helps in regulating the release of rennin in the body. In the process of regulating the release of rennin production in the body, beta1 blockers ensure the controlled biological activities. Beta1-receptor also reduces human blood pressure. The ability of Beta1-receptor to induce a quick reduction in blood pressure makes it one of the drugs for reduction of blood pressure. The knowledge of Beta blockers, their components, and how they induce treatment is very important in testing the factious drug Heartaslowin.
Heartaslowin drug must go through a rigorous test under the already existing procedures so as to ascertain its authenticity. This is best done when the knowledge of drugs, clinical tests, and composition are well known. The technological advancement, coupled with increase in disease prevalence, has encouraged innovation in medicine and pharmacology. Innovation and discovery of drugs is a noble course; however, it is prudent to put all innovated drugs under laboratory as well as clinical testing before the drugs are allowed for use. This process is only practical and possible when there are already benchmarks of each situation. This will go a long way in reducing the cases of toxic poisoning of the public. However, there are measures in place to handle drug issues; there are medical practitioners who are driven by the quest for money. The only way to bring sanity to the medical world is to know the benchmarks of the already existing drugs. Human health and well-being is very important, and therefore it is the responsibility of medical stakeholders and the public at large to ensure that the heart health issues are given the utmost priority they deserve.