Let's learn everything about the beating sound of our lives - the heart.

Have you ever put your hand on your chest and listened to that pulsating sound? That continuous tick... tick... sound is the rhythm of our very life. That is our heart. Just like the water pump in a house, this little organ keeps us alive by pumping blood throughout our bodies. So, today, let's talk about this wonderful organ that is so precious to us, our heart, in a little more detail , as if we were talking to a friend.

What is the heart? What does it really do?

Simply put, the heart is a very strong, muscular organ about the size of your fist. It is the master of our circulatory system . Its main job is to pump blood throughout the body.

Think about it, every cell in our body needs oxygen and nutrients to function. Just like a car needs gasoline. So, this oxygen and nutrients are carried to all parts of the body through the blood because the heart pumps. Also, this blood collects the unnecessary things that are produced in the cells, specifically waste products like carbon dioxide, and carries them to the appropriate places to be removed from the body.

In addition to that main duty, the heart does a few other important things:

• Controls heart rate and rhythm: This is what controls the heart to beat faster when we are sleeping and when we exercise.
• Regulates blood pressure: The heart helps to maintain the pressure, or pressure, that blood exerts on the walls of the veins as it travels through them.

The heart doesn't work alone to do these things. Our nervous system and endocrine system , which is the system that produces hormones, control all of this together.

What parts of the heart are like a house?

The best way to understand the structure of the heart is to compare it to a big house. This house has walls, rooms, doors, water pipes, and a system of electrical wires. Let's see what they are.

1. Heart Walls - Like the walls of a house

The walls of the heart are the muscles that contract (squeeze) and relax (relax) to pump blood. These walls are made up of three main layers:

• Endocardium: The thin inner layer.
• Myocardium: The middle, thickest and strongest layer of muscle. It does most of the pumping work of the heart.
• Epicardium: The outermost protective layer.

The entire heart is surrounded by a protective sac called the pericardium . The fluid inside this sac prevents the heart from colliding with surrounding organs, such as the lungs, when it beats.

2. Heart Chambers - Like the four rooms of a house

Our heart has four main rooms, or chambers. Two rooms upstairs and two rooms downstairs.

3. Heart Valves - Like the doors of a house

There are door-like parts in the main veins that carry blood between these chambers and out of the chambers. These are called valves. Their main function is to allow blood to flow in only one direction . They prevent blood from flowing backward. There are four main valves.

• Tricuspid valve: The door between the right atrium and the right ventricle.
• Pulmonary valve: The door where the vein that carries blood from the right ventricle to the lungs begins.
• Mitral valve: The door between the left atrium and the left ventricle.
• Aortic valve: The gate at the beginning of the aorta, the large artery that carries blood from the left ventricle to the entire body.

4. Blood Vessels - Like water pipes in a house

There is a network of tubes that carry and return blood from the heart throughout the body. These are the three main types.

• Arteries: Veins that carry oxygenated blood from the heart to the rest of the body. Like major highways.
• Veins: Veins that carry oxygen-depleted blood from parts of the body back to the heart.
• Capillaries: Very fine, small blood vessels. They connect arteries and veins. The exchange of oxygen to the body's cells and the removal of carbon dioxide occurs in these capillaries.

5. Electrical Conduction System - Like the electrical wiring in a house

The heart doesn't just beat. It has an electrical signal system. It's like the electrical wiring in a house. It's because of this system that the chambers of the heart contract in an orderly, regular rhythm.

• Sinoatrial (SA) node: This is the heart's main generator. The electrical signal that causes the heart to beat begins here.
• Atrioventricular (AV) node: Receives the signal from the SA node and sends it to the cells below with a slight delay. This slight delay allows the atria to fully contract and fill the cells with blood.
• This signal then spreads throughout the cells through special fibers (Purkinje fibers) and causes them to contract.

Common heart conditions and symptoms

Since the heart is a very busy organ, there are many diseases that affect it. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in Sri Lanka and around the world. Let's take a look at the most common conditions.

• Arrhythmia: An irregular heartbeat. It can either beat too fast, too slow, or it can beat irregularly.
• Coronary artery disease: Fat (cholesterol) deposits in the arteries that supply blood to the heart, narrowing them. This is the main cause of heart attacks.
• Heart attack / Myocardial infarction: When a coronary artery is completely blocked, blood supply to the heart muscle is cut off, causing the heart muscle to die.
• Congestive heart failure: A condition in which the heart's pumping ability is weakened, causing it to be unable to pump enough blood to the body.
• High blood pressure: The pressure exerted by blood as it travels through the arteries is higher than normal. It is often called a "silent killer" because it often does not cause symptoms.
• Heart valve disease: The doors of the heart, that is, the valves, do not open or close properly.

What are the symptoms of this condition?

If you have one or more of these symptoms, it is very important to see a doctor immediately .

• Chest pain, tightness, or discomfort.
• Heart palpitations.
• Difficulty breathing.
• Dizziness, a feeling of spinning.
• Feeling very tired (Fatigue).
• Swelling of the legs and ankles.

How to keep your heart healthy?

Although heart disease is a serious condition, the good news is that we can greatly reduce this risk by making lifestyle changes.

Here are some simple things you can do:

• Eat a heart-healthy diet: Eat more vegetables, fruits, legumes, and whole grains (like brown rice and oats). Reduce your intake of oil, salt, sugar, and processed foods.
• Exercise regularly: Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week, such as brisk walking, running, or swimming.
• Maintain a healthy weight: Maintaining a healthy weight for your height reduces risks like high blood pressure and diabetes.
• Avoid smoking completely: Smoking is one of the biggest enemies of the heart. If you are a smoker, seek help to quit.
• Manage stress: Stress is bad for the heart. You can reduce stress by doing things like meditation, yoga, or engaging in a hobby you enjoy.
• Check your blood pressure, cholesterol, and sugar levels: Get regular medical checkups and be aware of these levels. If necessary, use the medication your doctor prescribes exactly.

Your heart is the most precious gift you have ever received. It is your responsibility to take good care of it. If you have any concerns about your heart health, don't be afraid to talk to your doctor.

Heart, heart, heart disease, heart attack, cholesterol, high blood pressure, heart health in sinhala