Course Overview
Heart Disease 101 is designed for students who are new to cardiovascular topics and want a clear, structured introduction to heart disease. You will build a foundation in how the heart functions, how disease develops, what the most common types of heart disease look like, and how clinicians think about risk, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment.
Who This Course Is For
- Beginner healthcare students (CNA, MA, nursing, pre-med, allied health, public health)
- Students preparing for basic clinical rotations or entry-level exams
- Anyone who wants an organized, beginner-level understanding of heart disease
What You Will Learn
- Basic heart anatomy and how blood flows through the heart and body
- What “heart disease” includes: vessel disease, rhythm problems, valve disease, and pump failure
- The difference between stable angina, heart attack (myocardial infarction), and heart failure
- Major risk factors (modifiable vs non-modifiable) and how prevention works
- Common warning signs and when symptoms can be “silent” or atypical
- Intro-level overview of diagnostic tools (BP, labs, ECG, echo, stress tests)
- Core treatment principles: lifestyle, medications, procedures, and long-term follow-up
- Patient education basics: medication adherence, red flags, and healthy habit building
Course Structure
This course is organized into short lessons with quick knowledge checks. Each module ends with a simple summary and practical takeaway so students can connect concepts to real-world patient care.
Modules
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Module 1: The Heart in Plain English
- Heart anatomy (chambers, valves, vessels)
- How the heart pumps blood
- Oxygen delivery and why it matters
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Module 2: What “Heart Disease” Really Means
- Coronary artery disease (CAD)
- Heart rhythm problems (arrhythmias)
- Valve disease and murmurs
- Heart failure (the “pump problem”)
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Module 3: Risk Factors and Prevention
- Modifiable risk factors: smoking, BP, cholesterol, diabetes, weight, activity
- Non-modifiable risk factors: age, sex, family history
- Prevention levels: primary vs secondary prevention
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Module 4: Symptoms and Red Flags
- Chest pain patterns: pressure, tightness, radiation, exertional symptoms
- Shortness of breath, fatigue, dizziness, palpitations
- Atypical symptoms and silent disease
- Emergency warning signs (when to call for urgent help)
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Module 5: How Heart Disease Is Diagnosed
- Vital signs and blood pressure basics
- Labs (lipids, troponin concept, A1C overview)
- ECG basics (what it measures, what it can suggest)
- Echocardiogram and stress testing overview
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Module 6: Treatment Basics (Without the Overwhelm)
- Lifestyle foundations (nutrition, movement, sleep, stress)
- Medication categories: blood pressure meds, statins, antiplatelets, nitrates (high-level)
- Procedures overview: stents (PCI) and bypass (CABG)
- Why follow-up and adherence matter
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Module 7: Living With Heart Disease
- Chronic disease management mindset
- Monitoring symptoms and daily habits
- Patient education: diet labels, meds, activity pacing
- Rehab and prevention after an event
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Module 8: Course Review and Student Readiness
- Key terms recap
- Mini case scenarios (beginner level)
- Final knowledge check
- Next steps: what to study after this course
Estimated Time to Complete
Most learners finish in approximately 8 hours, including short quizzes and review.
Learning Outcomes
- Explain, in simple terms, the major categories of heart disease and how they affect the body
- Identify common symptoms and urgent warning signs related to heart disease
- Describe basic diagnostic tests and what they are used for
- Outline prevention and treatment principles at a beginner level
- Communicate basic patient education points clearly and respectfully
Disclaimer
This course is for educational purposes and is not a substitute for professional medical training, clinical supervision, or medical advice for individual patients.