The Heart

The heart is comprised of a network of striated muscle tissue known as myocardium. This specialized muscles’ main responsibility is the constant pumping of blood throughout the body. The average human heart involuntarily beats roughly 72 beats per minute.  It is an involuntary action.

Structure and Function
The human heart has four chambers, two superior atria and two inferior ventricles. The atria are located within the upper portion of the heart, one on the right and one on the left, and are the blood receiving chambers. The ventricles are located within the lower portion of the heart, again one on the right and one on the left, and are the blood discharging chambers. As the heart beats, its four chambers contract (systole) and relax (diastole) in a distinct fashion that allows for continuous blood flow.

The function of the right side of the heart is to collect deoxygenated blood from the body (via superior and inferior vena cavae) and pump it into the lungs so that carbon dioxide can be exchanged for oxygen. The left side of the heart then collects the oxygenated blood returned from the lungs and pumps it out to the body (via the aorta). Blood flows through the heart in one direction, from the atria to the ventricles, and out of the great arteries, such as the aorta.

Heart Disease and Heart Health
Age, sex, genetic disposition, smoking, obesity, stress, diet, as well as other medical conditions can and do affect the health of the heart. Cardiovascular disease or heart disease is the leading cause of death world- wide. Both cardiovascular disease and heart disease are terms used to collectively refer to a variety of diseases and medical conditions that affect the heart. These diseases can affect blood supply to the heart, the heart (cardiac) muscle, heart beat/rate, heart valves, the amount and rate of blood pumped through the heart, and/or the tissues around the heart that support the health and function of the heart.

Although some factors which affect the heart cannot be changed or avoided, there are several things that can be done to improve or retain the health of the heart:

Eating a healthy diet that contains plenty of fruits and vegetables, fiber and omega 3 fatty acids. A diet rich in fruit and vegetable provides antioxidants that protect cells from damaging free radicals and necessary vitamins and minerals that help the body perform optimally. Fruits, vegetables, and whole grains provide fiber which not only helps to reduce the amount of cholesterol that is absorbed from food, but also the amount of cholesterol that has already been stored within the body.

• Engaging in activity that raises your heart rate such as walking , running, hiking, biking 3- 5 times a week.
• Drinking water
• Eating fatty fish such as sardines, salmon, anchovies, blue fish, king fish, tuna steak, shark steak, these provide Omega 3 Fatty Acids which reduce the amount of cholesterol and triglycerides in the body.This will improve circulation and is believed to be preventive care for the heart,
• A 4 ounce glass of red wine 2- 3 times a week.