Have you ever used the iconic heart emoji while texting with your friends and family? It is such a significant part of chatting that you might think that the real heart beating inside your body as you read this article might actually look like that. Yet it doesn't, instead it almost looks like one half of the heart emoji. But one thing for sure is that the real heart is arguably the most important organ in human physiology. Even in this modern era of advanced medical research and revolutionary technology. The heart is still a complex organ to understand. It influences much of our daily lives and how we react to everything. So how does the heart function? And what causes changes to happen within this vital organ? In turn raising the question of how we can positively influence the behavior of our hearts?
Did you know that your heart is roughly the size of fist? Despite its size, the heart works tirelessly to help the body function. Each day, the heart beats around 100,000 times. This continuously pumps about five litres of blood around your body through a network of blood vessels called the circulatory system. The heart has a left side and a right side, they are separated by the Septum(thin muscular wall). The right side of the heart receives deoxygenated blood; most of the oxygen has been used up by the brain and body. It pumps it to the lungs where the waste (Co2) is removed and gets oxygenated. It is then passed back to the heart where it is pushed to the body yet again.
The human heart is made up of four chambers and several valves which modulate the blood flow within the body. The chambers include; the right atria, right ventricle, left atria and left ventricle. They serve as pumps, through which the blood flows into and out of the heart. Additionally, they are supported by four valves that control the flow of the blood towards specific directions by opening and closing. These valves are forced open by the pressure exerted by the blood in motion and are designed specifically to allow a single direction of blood flow. Well how does the heart know when to perform this task? There is an electrical system in place that tells the heart when to contract and when to relax to keep your blood pumping regularly. The instructions to contract and expand are carried out by electrical signals. The electrical signals are sent from the sinus node which is known as the heart’s natural pacemaker. Usually, the sinus node will send the electrical signals at a steady pace, but the pace can change depending on your emotions and activity. This process is your heart rate.
The heart works hard everyday even while you sleep or take a rest. So what happens if it suddenly stops functioning? It can lead to death in just a few minutes. This condition is called Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA). Around 300,000 to 400,000 people experience cardiac arrest every year and approximately 10% survive. This is because the symptoms can be very subtle causing the victim to not realize the truth until it’s too late, unlike the unrealistic reactions shown in Hollywood movies with dramatic and obvious signs of a cardiac arrest. Although some people do experience the stereotypical heart attacks portrayed in movies, most people do not, which causes this condition to be very fatal and have a high mortality rate.
Problems with your heart and circulatory system are usually caused by the progressive build-up of fatty material (called atheroma) in the arteries around the heart and in the arteries that supply blood to your brain. The atheroma lines the walls of the heart's arteries causing a blockage in the bloodstream. When the arteries become narrowed and the blood flow is restricted, the arteries can’t deliver enough blood to the heart and the brain, which can cause heart and circulatory diseases. Some diseases can include coronary heart disease(heart attack and angina), congenital heart disease, diabetes, stroke and vascular dementia. Coronary heart disease is a fancy jargon for heart attack that is caused by blocked arteries. Congenital heart disease is present in babies while they are inside the womb. The three common types are septal defects(a hole between the heart chambers), coarctation of the aorta (narrowing of the body’s main artery) and pulmonary valve stenosis(narrowing of the pulmonary valves). The pulmonary valves contain blood vessels that carry deoxygenated blood from the right side of your heart to your lungs. Lastly, vascular dementia is a condition caused by poor blood flow in the brain, resulting in symptoms like memory loss, confusion and difficulty processing information.
So while these diseases are severe and seem like the end of your world, there are ways to prevent them. This process is about taking small steps to lead yourself into the ultimate goal of being healthy for your most important organ, the heart. Start by having a healthy, balanced diet. This includes a low-fat, high-fibre diet , which consists of fresh fruit and vegetables and whole grains. Don’t eat food with saturated fats and high levels of sodium as these increase the bad cholesterol in the bloodstream. Began with eating one meal per day that checks this criteria so you can make your way up to a full fledged diet. Second, be more physically active because maintaining a healthy weight decreases chances of having heart diseases. Try any aerobic exercises such as walking, running or swimming. This makes your heart work harder and be healthy. Third, Stay away from using drugs, smoking or consuming alcohol as it increases your blood pressure. All this seems difficult at the beginning, the benefits outweigh everything.
In the end, despite the size of the heart, it involves many components that enable it to work properly so we can be alive. This is why it is so important to take proper care of this significant organ as it can lead to serious problems in the future. It is better to maintain a healthy lifestyle from the start than to suddenly take up one when faced with these symptoms. However, it is important to remember that some heart diseases are inherited or found upon birth. These may take effect despite the active habits. If faced with any question concerning symptoms you may be experiencing, please consult a certified medical professional who can guide you. It is crucial to have constant check-ups and keep an eye on your own body for issues that may arise.
Written by: Niranjana Suresh Preethy
SOURCES:
https://www.tanner.org/the-scope/heart-attacks-dont-happen-in hollywood#:~:text=Some%20people%20do%20experience%20the,learn%20they've%20had%20one.
Comments