A small powerhouse in our body - All about the heart!

Hello! How are you? Today we are going to talk about a very amazing, very important organ in our body. That is our heart. Imagine, what would happen if this little gadget stopped! So today we will talk about this indispensable friend of our life called the heart in a little detail. Just like talking to your best friend, simply.

What is the heart? Where is it located?

Simply put, the heart is a very powerful muscle pump that pumps blood throughout our bodies. It is what carries oxygen and nutrients to every cell in our body, and it also carries away waste products.

Home of the heart - be on the left side of the chest

Your heart is in the middle of your chest, between your lungs, slightly tilted to the left. It's protected by the ribcage, like a fortress. Do you feel a little flutter when you put your hand on your chest? That's where this amazing machine works.

The size of our hearts, which are small but do great things

Imagine, your heart is about the size of your fist. Isn't it amazing? This small size pumps about 7000 liters of blood a day! That means it beats about 70-80 times a minute. This is what we call a heartbeat .

What's inside the heart? It's like a house!

There are actually four chambers inside the heart. We call these the atria and ventricles. They are also cut like doors that help blood flow in only one direction.

Four chambers - Atria and Ventricles

The two small chambers at the top of the heart are called the atria . The right atrium receives the body's used, deoxygenated blood. The left atrium receives the oxygenated, clean blood from the lungs. The two large, strong chambers at the bottom are called the ventricles . The right ventricle pumps the deoxygenated blood to the lungs to pick up oxygen. The left ventricle is the strongest part of the heart. Because it pumps oxygenated blood to the entire body. Imagine, from your head to your toes!

Doors that open only one way - Valves

Between these chambers of the heart and between the large vessels that carry blood out of the chambers are four valves . These are like doors that open only one way. The job of these valves is to allow blood to flow in only one direction. They prevent blood from flowing backward. Valvular heart disease occurs when these valves do not work properly.

Major Blood Vessels - Large blood vessels that carry blood to and from the heart

There are two types of large blood vessels connected to the heart.

• Veins : These are the veins that carry deoxygenated blood (also known as "dirty blood") from the body to the heart. The largest veins are the Superior Vena Cava and the Inferior Vena Cava .
• Arteries : These are the arteries that carry oxygen-rich blood (also known as "clean blood") from the heart to the body. The largest artery is the Aorta . The artery that carries blood to the lungs is called the Pulmonary Artery .

The muscle of the heart - Myocardium

The heart is an organ made up of a special muscle. This is called the myocardium . This is what gives the heart the energy it needs to beat and pump blood. The heart also needs blood to work. That blood is supplied by the coronary arteries . If these arteries become blocked , a heart attack (Myocardial Infarction) occurs.

How does this little machine work? It's amazing!

The way the heart works is very complex, but it's also very amazing. It's like a super pump that works non-stop.

Like a blood pumping machine

The right side of the heart collects the blood used by the body and sends it to the lungs to get oxygen. The blood that comes back from the lungs picks up oxygen and returns to the left side of the heart, where it is pumped to the entire body. This cycle continues. Imagine, this work continues even when we are sleeping!

The electrical system of the heart - how it controls the heartbeat (SA node, AV node)

The heart doesn't just beat. It has a special electrical system. The head of this is the sinoatrial node (SA node) . This is a small collection of cells located at the top of the right atrium. This is where the electrical signal that the heart needs to beat starts. It's like our heart's natural pacemaker . This signal then goes to a place called the atrioventricular node (AV node) . From there, the signal goes to the cells and makes them contract. If something goes wrong with this electrical system, the heartbeat becomes irregular. We call that an arrhythmia .

What are Heart Rate and Blood Pressure?

Heart rate is the number of times your heart beats per minute. In a healthy adult, this is between 60 and 100 beats per minute when you are at rest. It increases when you exercise or are scared. Blood pressure is the pressure that blood exerts on the walls of your arteries. It is measured in two numbers (e.g. 120/80 mmHg). The top number, ``Systolic pressure``, is the pressure when the heart contracts and pumps blood. The bottom number, ``Diastolic pressure``, is the pressure when the heart relaxes and fills with blood. Having high blood pressure (Hypertension) on a regular basis is not good for the heart.

How to keep our heart healthy? Be sure to do these things!

Our heart is something we need to take good care of, because only when it is healthy can we be healthy and happy.

• Let's be careful about what we eat and drink:
• Eat more: fruits, vegetables, greens, whole grains (brown rice, oatmeal), fish (especially oily fish like salmon and herring).
• Reduce: Salt, sugar, fatty foods, artificial sweeteners , foods with trans fats (sometimes found in baked goods and instant noodles).
• Drink plenty of water.
• Exercise is the heart's best friend:
• Do some form of exercise that makes you sweat, at least 5 days a week, for at least 30 minutes a day. Walking, running, cycling, dancing, swimming, anything is good.
• Exercise strengthens the heart, controls blood pressure , and increases good cholesterol ( HDL cholesterol) levels.
• Let's stay away from smoking and alcohol:
• Smoking is the ultimate enemy of the heart. It can clog blood vessels, increase blood pressure, and greatly increase the risk of heart attack.
• Excessive alcohol consumption is also harmful to the heart.
• Let's reduce stress:
• Constant stress is not good for the heart. Things like meditation, yoga, engaging in a hobby, and talking to friends can help reduce stress.
• Regular medical checkups are important:
• After the age of 30-40, it is very important to check your blood pressure, blood sugar levels, and cholesterol levels at least once a year. That way, if there is any problem, you can identify it quickly.
• Also watch out for these diseases:
• If you have conditions like hypertension , diabetes mellitus , or high cholesterol , follow your doctor's instructions carefully. Controlling them is very important to protect your heart.

Remember, your heart is in your hands! Small changes can make a big difference.

Some troubles that come to the heart - let's be aware

Even with good care, heart problems can sometimes occur. Being aware of these can help you seek treatment quickly if symptoms arise.

What is a heart attack (Myocardial Infarction)? What are the symptoms?

A heart attack (myocardial infarction) is when a coronary artery that supplies blood to the heart muscle suddenly becomes blocked, causing damage to that part of the heart. This is an emergency!

• Main symptoms:
• A feeling of pressure, squeezing, or tightness in the center of the chest. This pain may radiate to the left arm, neck, jaw, or back.
• Difficulty breathing.
• Sweating.
• Nausea, vomiting.
• Dizziness (vertigo), fainting.

Important: If you experience one or more of these symptoms, don't waste time and go to the hospital immediately!

Heart Failure in Simple Terms

Heart Failure is a condition in which the heart is unable to pump enough blood to the body. This does not happen suddenly, but occurs when the heart has been weakened over time.

• Symptoms may include:
• Difficulty breathing (especially when exercising or bending over).
• Swelling of the legs and ankles.
• Irritability, fatigue.
• Fast or irregular heartbeat.

Irregular heartbeat - Arrhythmia

Arrhythmia is an irregular heartbeat. It can mean that the heart beats slowly, rapidly, or irregularly. While some arrhythmias are not dangerous, others can be serious. An example is atrial fibrillation .

• Symptoms may include:
• Palpitations.
• Dizziness (vertigo).
• Shortness of breath.
• Chest pain.

Valve problems (Valvular Heart Disease)

When the valves in the heart do not work properly, whether they do not open properly (stenosis) or do not close properly (regurgitation), blood flow is obstructed. This also affects the heart.

If you feel anything like this, see a doctor immediately!

If you have any of the symptoms mentioned above, don't ignore it. See a doctor immediately. Early diagnosis and treatment can prevent major damage.

Finally, the most important thing (Take-Home Message)

Your heart is the most precious thing in your life, and you have a great responsibility to keep it healthy.

• Follow a healthy diet.
• Exercise regularly.
• Avoid smoking and excessive alcohol consumption.
• Control stress.
• Get regular medical checkups.
• If you have diseases like diabetes or high blood pressure, control them well.

Taking care of your heart means loving yourself. So, starting today, think a little more about your heart and take good care of it. Then you will be able to live a healthy, happy, long life! Heart, heart disease, heart health, heart attack, blood pressure, cholesterol, healthy lifestyle