Let's simply learn about the Great Vessels of the Heart?

We all know that our heart is a wonderful pump that works non-stop. Like a water motor, this pump pumps blood throughout our body. But have you ever thought about the big 'pipe' system that brings blood to this pump and carries blood back to the body, that is, the main pipeline? The main, largest blood vessels that are directly connected to the heart are what we call the 'Great Vessels of the Heart' . Today, we will talk simply and kindly about these, their function, and how to keep them healthy.

What are these great vessels?

Simply put, these are the main highways that connect our hearts. These large blood vessels are what carry blood back and forth between your heart and your lungs, and between your heart and every other part of your body. If these aren't working properly, the entire body's circulatory system will suffer.

This major group of blood vessels includes five main parts:

• Aorta: This is the largest and most important artery in our body. It's like the largest pipe that distributes water from the main water tank to the entire city.
• Main Pulmonary Artery: This is the artery that carries 'dirty' blood from the heart to the lungs.
• Pulmonary Veins: These veins carry blood that has been oxygenated in the lungs back to the heart.
• Superior Vena Cava: This is where used blood from the upper parts of your body, such as the head, neck, and arms, returns to the heart.
• Inferior Vena Cava: This vein carries used blood from the lower parts of your body, such as the legs and abdomen, back to the heart.

All of these veins work together, in a very coordinated manner, to send blood along the correct paths every second your heart beats.

What is the main function of these? How blood travels

These large blood vessels are an essential part of our circulatory system . There are two main circulatory circuits in our body. Let's take a look at what these two circuits are, and how our large blood vessels help with this.

1. Pulmonary Circuit - The journey between the heart and lungs

It's very simple. This circuit carries blood between your heart and your lungs. First, the blood that has been used up in the body, which is low in oxygen (let's call it dirty blood for ease of understanding), goes from the heart to the lungs. The lungs do a similar job to servicing a car. They remove waste products like carbon dioxide from the blood and add oxygen to the blood that we breathe in. This new, oxygen-rich blood then returns to the heart.

How the large blood vessels help with this:

• Main Pulmonary Artery: This is the artery that carries oxygen-poor blood from the right ventricle of the heart to the lungs.
• Pulmonary Veins: These veins carry oxygenated blood from the lungs back to the left atrium of the heart. There are usually four of these veins.

2. Systemic Circuit - The journey between the heart and the entire body

Now, the oxygen-rich, clean blood that comes from the lungs and is in the heart is sent to every corner of the body. That's what this circuit is for. Through this circuit, the oxygen-rich blood leaves the heart, travels throughout the body, and distributes oxygen, nutrients, and hormones to every cell and organ. At the same time, it collects the waste products that accumulate in those places, and the oxygen-depleted blood returns to the heart.

How the large blood vessels help with this:

• Aorta: This is the superhero of this journey. The oxygen-rich blood pumped with great force by the left ventricle of the heart first goes into this aorta. It then distributes the blood throughout the body through the many branches that branch off from it.
• Superior Vena Cava: This large vein collects oxygen-poor blood from the upper parts of your body (head, neck, arms) and brings it to the right atrium of the heart.
• Inferior Vena Cava: This vein collects oxygen-poor blood from the lower parts of your body (legs, abdomen) and brings it to the right atrium of the heart.

Where are these large blood vessels located and how are they connected?

These large blood vessels are directly connected to the four chambers of the heart. You can understand this more clearly from the table below.

What are these made of? How big are they?

This large blood vessel, like the other blood vessels in our body, is made up of a wall made up of three layers of tissue, like a tube.

1. The innermost layer (Tunica Intima): This is the part that comes into direct contact with the blood. It is covered by a very thin layer of cells, allowing the blood to flow through without any obstruction.

2. Tunica Media: This layer contains elastic fibers. When the heart pumps blood with great force, this layer helps the vein to stretch and return to its normal position. It is also this layer that helps the blood vessels to contract and expand (Vasoconstriction and Vasodilation) .

3. The outermost layer (Tunica Adventitia): This is where the blood vessel gets its strength and structure.

These are not called "great" blood vessels for nothing. They have a larger internal diameter, or the width of the blood vessel, than other blood vessels. This is because they need to be large enough to accommodate the large volume of blood flowing to and from the heart. The aorta and pulmonary artery in particular need to be strong enough to withstand the high pressure exerted by the heart.

The width (diameter) of these is usually about 2-3 centimeters. This can vary slightly depending on factors such as age and gender.

What diseases affect these blood vessels?

Unfortunately, these important blood vessels can also be affected by various diseases. Some are congenital heart diseases that are present from birth. Others are caused by bad lifestyle habits as we live. Let's look at some of the diseases that can affect each blood vessel.

If you experience symptoms like these, the best thing to do is not to panic, but to see your doctor as soon as possible and seek advice.

How do we keep these important blood vessels healthy?

To keep not just these major blood vessels, but all the blood vessels in your body and your heart healthy, it is essential to follow a heart-healthy lifestyle. Here are some simple, yet very important tips you can follow.

• Avoid smoking completely: Avoid not only cigarettes, beedis, and cigars, but also vaping. These damage the walls of your blood vessels, making them stiff. If you're having trouble quitting, talk to your doctor about ways to get help.
• Eat a heart-healthy diet: Reduce your intake of foods high in salt, sugar, and saturated fat (such as fatty foods, fried foods, and fast foods). Instead, include foods high in soluble fiber, such as fruits, vegetables, legumes, and nuts, in your diet.
• Exercise regularly: It's great if you can get at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise a day. This could be walking, running, or cycling. But talk to your doctor about what exercises are safe and suitable for you.
• Limit alcohol consumption: It is best to stop drinking altogether if possible.
• Control high blood pressure and cholesterol: If you have these conditions, take your medications exactly as prescribed by your doctor, on time, and follow a healthy diet.
• Get an annual medical checkup: Even if you think you don't have any health problems, seeing a doctor at least once a year to check your health will help you avoid major illnesses in the future.

These great blood vessels do a truly "big" job. From bringing blood to the heart, to distributing life-giving oxygen throughout the body, to removing waste products, the entire system depends on the health of these highways.

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