Should we simply know everything about our heart?

Have you ever wondered how much work this tiny organ in our body, the size of a fist, does? The heart is truly an amazing, constantly working machine. You would be surprised to learn that our very lives depend on this tiny organ. So, in this article, we will talk about the heart, how it works, and how to protect yourself from heart diseases in a simple, understandable way.

What is the heart and what does it do to our body?

Simply put, the heart is a muscular organ that pumps blood throughout our body. It is like a water pump pumping water. This is the main organ of our circulatory system.

Imagine, there are four small rooms inside our heart, that is, four chambers . Blood enters these chambers and stays for a while, and then it goes to the other side. The heart doesn't just beat, it receives signals from electrical impulses . All of this is controlled by our brain and nervous system.

So the main function of the heart is to distribute blood throughout the body. It is with this blood that every cell in our body receives the oxygen and nutrients it needs. Also, the blood that passes through the heart also carries away waste products such as carbon dioxide produced in the cells and delivers them to other organs where they can be eliminated .

Not only that, the heart performs several other important functions:

• It controls the rate and rhythm of our heartbeat.
• It helps maintain our blood pressure at a proper level.

The heart doesn't do this work alone. It works in conjunction with two systems called our nervous system and endocrine system.

• Nervous system: This system sends signals to slow down our heart rate when we are sleeping and to increase our heart rate when we are anxious or afraid.
• Endocrine system: This system releases chemicals called hormones . These hormones cause our blood vessels to constrict or dilate. This is what changes blood pressure. For example, hormones from the thyroid gland in our neck can also increase or decrease our heart rate.

The parts of the heart are like the parts of a house!

Yes, imagine that our heart is a small house. Just like that house, the heart also has different parts.

• Walls: Like the walls of a house.
• Chambers: Like rooms in a house.
• Valves: Like doors to rooms, they can open and close.
• Blood vessels: Like the water pipe system in a house.
• Electrical conduction system: Like the wiring system that supplies electricity to a home.

Shall we look at each of these parts in a little more detail?

Heart walls

The walls of the heart are made up of muscles. These are what pump blood by contracting and expanding. The right and left sides of the heart are separated by a muscular tissue called the septum .

The heart wall is made up of three layers:

• Endocardium: The innermost layer.
• Myocardium: The thick, muscular layer in the middle. This is the main pumping function of the heart.
• Epicardium: The outermost protective layer.

This epicardium is one layer of the protective sac around the heart called the pericardium . The pericardium secretes a fluid, like grease, to reduce friction between the heart and other organs.

Heart chambers

As we said before, the heart has four main chambers. Two on top, two on the bottom, and one on each side.

• Right atrium: Two large veins - the superior vena cava ( which carries blood from the upper part of the heart) and the inferior vena cava ( which carries blood from the lower part of the heart) - carry oxygen-poor blood into this right atrium. The right atrium then pumps this blood into the right ventricle.
• Right ventricle: This lower right chamber pumps oxygen-poor blood to the lungs through the pulmonary artery . It is in the lungs that oxygen is re-added to the blood.
• Left atrium: Oxygenated blood from the lungs enters the left atrium through the pulmonary veins . This pumps blood from the upper left ventricle to the left ventricle.
• Left ventricle: The left ventricle is slightly larger than the right ventricle and has thicker walls. This is because it pumps oxygenated blood throughout the body. It requires a lot of force.

Heart valves

The valves in the heart are like doors. They are located between the chambers. They open and close to allow blood to flow in only one direction. The main function of these valves is to stop blood from flowing back in the wrong direction.

There are two main types of valves:

Atrioventricular valves (AV valves)

These are located between the upper atrium and the lower ventricle.

• Tricuspid valve: The valve between the right atrium and the right ventricle.
• Mitral valve: The door between the left atrium and the left ventricle.

Semilunar valves (SL valves)

These open when blood leaks out of the cells.

• Aortic valve: Opens as blood flows from the left ventricle into the aorta (the main artery that carries oxygenated blood to the entire body).
• Pulmonary valve: Opens when blood from the right ventricle enters the pulmonary artery (the only type of artery that carries oxygen-poor blood to the lungs).

Blood vessels

The heart pumps blood through three main types of blood vessels:

• Arteries: These carry oxygenated blood from the heart to the body's tissues. The only exception is the pulmonary arteries, which carry oxygen-poor blood to the lungs.
• Veins: Bring oxygen-poor blood from the body back to the heart.
• Capillaries: Very fine blood vessels. Oxygenated blood and oxygen-poor blood exchange through these capillaries.

Coronary arteries

The heart also needs nourishment. So there is a special system of arteries that supply blood to the heart. These are called coronary arteries . These run along the surface of the heart.

• Left coronary artery: This divides into two branches - the circumflex artery ( which supplies blood to the left atrium and the sides and back of the left ventricle) and the left anterior descending artery (LAD) (which supplies blood to the front and bottom of the left ventricle and in front of the septum).
• Right coronary artery (RCA): Supplies blood to the right atrium, right ventricle, lower part of the left ventricle, and behind the septum.

Electrical conduction system of the heart

This is like the electrical wiring in a house. The rhythm and speed of the heartbeat are controlled by this system. The signals start at the top of the heart and travel down.

• Sinoatrial node (SA node): This is where the signal to the heart to beat begins. This is called the heart's "natural pacemaker."
• Atrioventricular node (AV node): Conducts electrical signals from the upper chambers of the heart to the lower chambers.
• Left bundle branch: Sends electrical impulses to the left ventricle.
• Right bundle branch: Sends electrical impulses to the right ventricle.
• Bundle of His: Sends impulses from the AV node to the Purkinje fibers.
• Purkinje fibers: These fibers help the heart cells contract and pump blood out.

Where is the heart? What does it look like? How big is it?

Your heart is located in the front of your chest. To be precise, it's located in the middle of your chest, just behind the breastbone, or sternum , and to the left.

That means the heart is not completely on the left side, but slightly to the left. Between the right and left lungs. The left lung is a little smaller than the right one, to accommodate that heart. The heart is protected by our rib cage.

From the outside, the heart looks like an inverted pyramid, but with slightly rounded corners. Large blood vessels enter and leave the heart, carrying blood in and out. These veins connect the heart to the rest of the body.

Everyone's heart size is a little different. Your heart is usually about the size of your fist. An adult's heart weighs about 10 ounces (about 280 grams). This weight can vary depending on your body size and gender.

What are the common diseases that affect the heart?

Sadly, heart disease is a very common condition in the world. It is the leading cause of death in countries like the United States.

Here are some common medical conditions that can affect the heart:

• Arrhythmia: A heart rate that is too fast, too slow, or irregular.
• Cardiomyopathy: Abnormal thickening, enlargement, or stiffness of the heart muscle.
• Congestive heart failure: The heart becomes so stiff or weak that it cannot pump blood properly.
• Coronary artery disease: Fatty deposits (plaque) build up inside the coronary arteries, narrowing them.
• Diabetes Mellitus: High blood sugar levels. This can also affect the heart.
• Myocardial infarction / Heart attack: A sudden blockage of a coronary artery, causing a portion of the heart muscle to lose oxygen.
• Heart valve disease: A heart valve that does not work properly.
• High blood pressure: Increased pressure exerted by blood on the walls of blood vessels.
• High cholesterol: An increase in the amount of fats in the blood.
• Pericarditis: Inflammation of the pericardium, the sac that surrounds the heart.

What are the common symptoms of heart disease?

If you have symptoms like these, you should be concerned:

• Chest pain or discomfort.
• Feeling like your heart is beating fast, or hearing the sound of your chest pounding (heart palpitations).
• Dizziness.
• Shortness of breath.
• Feeling very tired (Fatigue).
• Swelling of the lower body, especially the legs.

Important: If you have one or more of these symptoms, see a doctor immediately. It is very important.

Routine tests that check the health of your heart

Doctors perform tests like these to check the health of the heart:

• Blood pressure measurement `(Blood pressure measurement)` .
• Electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG): This measures the electrical activity of the heart.
• Echocardiogram: Takes pictures of the heart using sound waves.
• Chest X-ray: Checks the condition of the heart and lungs.
• Blood tests: These check things like cholesterol and sugar levels.
• Cardiac catheterization: A thin tube is passed through a blood vessel into the heart to examine it.
• Computed tomography (CT scan): Takes detailed pictures of the heart.
• Heart MRI (magnetic resonance imaging): Pictures of the heart are taken using a magnetic field.
• Stress test: This tests how the heart works during exercise.

What are the common treatments for heart disease?

Doctors treat someone with heart disease in the following ways:

• Medications: To lower blood pressure and stop blood clotting.
• Changing daily habits: things like what you eat and drink, how much you exercise.
• Medical devices: Implanting devices such as pacemakers into the heart.
• Procedures: Things like catheter ablation ( for irregular heartbeats) or angioplasty (to widen narrowed blood vessels).
• Surgery: Major surgeries like coronary artery bypass surgery or valve replacement .

How can I keep my heart healthy?

This is the most important part. If you have heart disease, you need to follow the treatment plan your doctor gives you exactly. It is very important to take your medication at the right time and in the right amount.

Also, there are several lifestyle changes you can make to keep your heart healthy:

• Maintain a healthy weight that suits you.
• Limit alcohol consumption, or stop it completely.
• Eat heart-healthy foods: Eat more fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains.
• Exercise for at least 150 minutes a week. This could be brisk walking, running, or swimming.
• Reduce the amount of salt you add to your food.
• Manage stress: Use healthy methods like meditation and journaling.
• If you smoke, stop. Avoid using cigarettes and other tobacco products. Avoid being around people who smoke (secondhand smoke). If you smoke, ask your doctor for help quitting.

What are some things you should ask your doctor about your heart?

When you go to see a doctor, it's a good idea to ask these questions:

• How does having heart disease in my family affect my heart health?
• What can I do to lower my blood pressure?
• How does my cholesterol level affect my heart?
• What are the symptoms of a heart attack?
• What kind of food should I eat to prevent heart disease?

Finally, what to remember

As the main organ of our circulatory system, the heart is what keeps us alive. It pumps blood throughout the body, bringing oxygen to our cells and tissues. Because the heart performs such an important function, it is important to take care of it. Heart conditions are very common, but you can make changes to help keep your heart healthy. Ask your doctor about how you can improve your heart health.