The human heart is a muscular organ which pumps blood through the blood vessels of the circulatory system. The heart is divided into four chambers, upper left and right artier, and lower left and right ventricles.
The main function of the heart is the circulation of blood. This it does through two part ways; the pulmonary circuit and the systemic circuit.
In the first pathway which is the pulmonary circuit, de-oxygenated blood leaves the right ventricle of the heart via the pulmonary artery and travels to the lungs, then return as oxygenated blood to the left atrium. However in the second pathway – the systemic circuit – oxygenated blood leaves the heart through the left ventricle to the aorta and circulates to the arteries and capillaries where the body tissues are supplied with oxygen. De-oxygenated blood however returns to the heart via veins to the venae cavae, re-entering the right atrium.
Basic facts about the heart.
- The heart is roughly the size of a large fist.
- It beats about 100,000 times per day (about 3 billion beats in a lifetime).
- The heart pumps about 5.7 liters of blood throughout the body and about 1 million barrels of blood during an average life time.
- The adult heart beat about 60-80 times per minute while a newborn’s heart beat faster about 70-190 beats per minute.
- The heart does the most physical work of any muscle during a life time.
- Any damage to the heart or its valves can reduce its pumping power thereby making the heart work harder.
The heart as critical as it is to every human can be diseased. Heart diseases such as coronary heart disease, heart attack, congestive heart failure and congenital heart disease are among the leading causes of death for men and women in the world. Therefore there is a need to take precautions by taking care of our heart.
Below are some ways in which we can take care of our heart:
- Know your numbers: by regularly checking your blood pressure, cholesterol levels, blood sugar etc. this will allow you notice any deviation from the norm in your system.
- Watch your diet: avoid junk foods and eat healthy. Take a lot of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts and other food that are beneficial to the body.
- Exercise: get involve in physical activities such as taking a walk, swimming, register in a gym.
- Manage your stress level by always looking at the positive side of life.
- Quit smoking.
- Drink a lot of water.
- Know your family history so you can take extra precautions.
References:
10 ways to take care of your heart health: www.uwhealth.org/go-red/10-ways-to-take-charge -of-your-heart-health/10543.
Heart: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heart
Human Heart: www.livescience.com/34655-human-heart.html
http://www.webmd.com/heart/features/amazing-facts-about-heart-health-and-heart-disease
http://www.mercola.com/infographics/human-heart-facts.htm
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