How does the heart pump blood throughout the body. What are the main chambers of the heart and their functions. Why is the heart’s pumping action crucial for survival. How do the lungs play a role in blood oxygenation. What is the difference between oxygenated and deoxygenated blood.

The Structure and Function of the Human Heart

The heart is a remarkable organ that plays a vital role in sustaining life. Located in the chest cavity, this fist-sized muscular organ works tirelessly to pump blood throughout the body. But how exactly does the heart accomplish this crucial task?

To understand the heart’s pumping mechanism, we must first examine its structure. The heart is divided into four chambers: two upper chambers called atria and two lower chambers called ventricles. These chambers work in harmony to ensure that blood flows efficiently through the body.

The Four Chambers of the Heart

• Right atrium
• Right ventricle
• Left atrium
• Left ventricle

Each of these chambers has a specific role in the blood circulation process. The atria receive blood entering the heart, while the ventricles pump blood out of the heart.

The Journey of Blood Through the Heart

The heart’s pumping action is a complex process that involves multiple steps. How does blood move through the heart’s chambers? Let’s break down this intricate journey:

1. Deoxygenated blood enters the right atrium
2. Blood flows from the right atrium to the right ventricle
3. The right ventricle pumps blood to the lungs
4. Oxygenated blood returns from the lungs to the left atrium
5. Blood moves from the left atrium to the left ventricle
6. The left ventricle pumps oxygenated blood to the body

This continuous cycle ensures that oxygen-rich blood reaches every part of the body, while deoxygenated blood is sent to the lungs for reoxygenation.

The Role of Heart Valves in Blood Flow

The heart’s efficiency in pumping blood relies heavily on its valve system. These valves act as one-way doors, preventing blood from flowing backward and ensuring it moves in the right direction. Which valves are crucial for proper blood flow?

• Tricuspid valve: Between the right atrium and right ventricle
• Pulmonary valve: Between the right ventricle and pulmonary artery
• Mitral valve: Between the left atrium and left ventricle
• Aortic valve: Between the left ventricle and aorta

These valves open and close in a coordinated manner, allowing blood to flow forward while preventing backflow. Any malfunction in these valves can lead to serious heart conditions.

The Cardiac Cycle: Systole and Diastole

The heart’s pumping action occurs in a rhythmic cycle known as the cardiac cycle. This cycle consists of two main phases: systole and diastole. During systole, the ventricles contract, pumping blood out of the heart. In diastole, the ventricles relax, allowing them to fill with blood.

How long does a complete cardiac cycle take? In a healthy adult at rest, one complete cycle typically lasts about 0.8 seconds. This means the heart beats approximately 75 times per minute, though this can vary depending on factors such as age, fitness level, and physical activity.

Key Events in the Cardiac Cycle

1. Atrial systole: Atria contract, pushing blood into ventricles
2. Ventricular systole: Ventricles contract, ejecting blood
3. Atrial diastole: Atria relax and begin to fill with blood
4. Ventricular diastole: Ventricles relax and fill with blood

This precise coordination of contraction and relaxation ensures that blood flows efficiently through the heart and to the rest of the body.

The Importance of the Coronary Arteries

While the heart is responsible for pumping blood to the entire body, it also requires its own blood supply to function properly. This is where the coronary arteries come into play. These vital blood vessels supply oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle itself.

The coronary arteries branch off from the aorta, the main artery leaving the heart, and wrap around the surface of the heart. They deliver essential oxygen and nutrients to the hard-working cardiac muscle tissue.

Major Coronary Arteries

• Left main coronary artery
• Left anterior descending artery
• Left circumflex artery
• Right coronary artery

Any blockage or narrowing of these arteries can lead to coronary artery disease, potentially resulting in a heart attack. This underscores the importance of maintaining good cardiovascular health through diet, exercise, and regular check-ups.

The Lungs: Oxygenation Station for Blood

The lungs play a crucial role in the circulatory system by oxygenating the blood. How does this process work in conjunction with the heart’s pumping action?

When deoxygenated blood leaves the right ventricle, it travels through the pulmonary arteries to the lungs. In the lungs, tiny air sacs called alveoli allow for the exchange of gases. Oxygen from the air we breathe diffuses into the bloodstream, while carbon dioxide, a waste product of cellular metabolism, is expelled from the blood into the lungs to be exhaled.

The Oxygenation Process

1. Deoxygenated blood enters the lungs via pulmonary arteries
2. Blood flows through capillaries surrounding alveoli
3. Oxygen diffuses from alveoli into the blood
4. Carbon dioxide diffuses from blood into alveoli
5. Oxygenated blood returns to the heart via pulmonary veins

This newly oxygenated blood then enters the left atrium of the heart, ready to be pumped to the rest of the body.

The Electrical System of the Heart

The heart’s pumping action is controlled by an intricate electrical system. This system ensures that the heart beats in a coordinated and rhythmic manner. But how does this electrical system work?

The heart’s electrical activity originates in a group of specialized cells called the sinoatrial (SA) node, often referred to as the heart’s natural pacemaker. The SA node generates electrical impulses that spread through the heart muscle, causing it to contract.

Components of the Heart’s Electrical System

• Sinoatrial (SA) node
• Atrioventricular (AV) node
• Bundle of His
• Left and right bundle branches
• Purkinje fibers

These components work together to ensure that the electrical signal travels through the heart in the correct sequence, resulting in the coordinated contraction of the heart chambers.

Factors Affecting Heart Rate and Blood Pressure

The heart’s pumping efficiency is reflected in two key measurements: heart rate and blood pressure. Various factors can influence these vital signs, affecting the overall function of the cardiovascular system.

Factors Influencing Heart Rate

• Physical activity
• Emotional state
• Body temperature
• Body position
• Age and fitness level
• Medications

Heart rate typically increases during exercise or stress and decreases during rest or relaxation. A normal resting heart rate for adults ranges from 60 to 100 beats per minute, although athletes may have lower resting heart rates.

Factors Affecting Blood Pressure

• Age
• Gender
• Family history
• Diet (especially salt intake)
• Physical activity level
• Stress
• Alcohol and tobacco use

Blood pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury (mmHg) and is recorded as two numbers: systolic pressure (when the heart contracts) over diastolic pressure (when the heart relaxes). A normal blood pressure reading for adults is typically below 120/80 mmHg.

Common Heart Conditions and Their Impact on Pumping Function

Various heart conditions can affect the heart’s ability to pump blood effectively. Understanding these conditions is crucial for maintaining cardiovascular health and seeking appropriate medical care when needed.

Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)

CAD occurs when the coronary arteries become narrowed or blocked due to the buildup of plaque. This reduces blood flow to the heart muscle, potentially leading to chest pain (angina) or heart attack.

Heart Valve Disease

When heart valves don’t function properly, it can disrupt blood flow through the heart. Valve diseases can involve stenosis (narrowing) or regurgitation (leaking), both of which can strain the heart and reduce its pumping efficiency.

Cardiomyopathy

This group of diseases affects the heart muscle itself, making it harder for the heart to pump blood effectively. There are several types of cardiomyopathy, including dilated, hypertrophic, and restrictive cardiomyopathy.

Arrhythmias

Irregular heartbeats can affect the heart’s pumping efficiency. Common arrhythmias include atrial fibrillation, supraventricular tachycardia, and ventricular fibrillation.

Heart Failure

This condition occurs when the heart can’t pump blood as efficiently as it should. It can result from various underlying conditions and may affect either the left side, right side, or both sides of the heart.

Early detection and proper management of these conditions are essential for maintaining a healthy heart and ensuring optimal blood circulation throughout the body.

Maintaining a Healthy Heart: Tips for Optimal Pumping Function

Keeping your heart healthy is crucial for overall well-being and longevity. By adopting certain lifestyle habits, you can support your heart’s pumping function and reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases.

Regular Exercise

Physical activity strengthens the heart muscle and improves its pumping efficiency. Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic exercise per week.

Balanced Diet

A heart-healthy diet should be rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats. Limit saturated fats, trans fats, added sugars, and excessive salt intake.

Stress Management

Chronic stress can negatively impact heart health. Practice stress-reduction techniques such as meditation, deep breathing exercises, or yoga to support cardiovascular well-being.

Adequate Sleep

Quality sleep is essential for heart health. Aim for 7-9 hours of sleep per night to allow your heart to rest and recover.

Regular Health Check-ups

Schedule regular check-ups with your healthcare provider to monitor your blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and overall heart health.

Quit Smoking and Limit Alcohol

Smoking is a major risk factor for heart disease. If you smoke, seek help to quit. If you drink alcohol, do so in moderation.

Stay Hydrated

Proper hydration supports overall cardiovascular function. Aim to drink adequate water throughout the day.

By implementing these strategies, you can support your heart’s pumping function and promote overall cardiovascular health. Remember, small changes in your daily habits can have a significant impact on your heart’s long-term well-being.

The Future of Cardiac Care: Innovations in Heart Health

As medical science advances, new technologies and treatments are emerging to improve cardiac care and support heart function. These innovations offer hope for better diagnosis, treatment, and management of heart conditions.

Artificial Intelligence in Cardiology

AI algorithms are being developed to analyze heart scans and predict cardiovascular risks more accurately than traditional methods. This technology has the potential to revolutionize early detection and personalized treatment plans.

3D Printing in Cardiac Surgery

3D-printed heart models allow surgeons to plan complex procedures with greater precision. This technology can lead to more successful outcomes and reduced surgical risks.

Gene Therapy

Researchers are exploring gene therapy as a potential treatment for various heart conditions. This approach aims to correct genetic defects that contribute to heart disease.

Wearable Technology

Advanced wearable devices can monitor heart rate, rhythm, and other vital signs in real-time. These tools empower patients to take a more active role in managing their heart health.

Regenerative Medicine

Stem cell therapies and tissue engineering show promise in repairing damaged heart tissue and improving heart function in patients with heart failure.

Minimally Invasive Procedures

Advancements in catheter-based treatments allow for complex cardiac procedures to be performed with smaller incisions, leading to faster recovery times and reduced complications.

These innovations represent exciting possibilities for the future of cardiac care. As research progresses, we can expect even more breakthroughs that will enhance our understanding of the heart’s pumping mechanism and improve treatments for cardiovascular diseases.

The human heart is a remarkable organ, tirelessly pumping blood to sustain life. Its intricate structure and coordinated functions ensure that oxygen and nutrients reach every cell in the body. By understanding how the heart works and taking steps to maintain its health, we can support this vital organ in its crucial role. As medical science continues to advance, we look forward to new discoveries that will further enhance our ability to care for and protect the heart.

Heart: how your heart pumps blood around your body

The heart is a fist-sized muscular organ that sits in the chest cavity.

What does your heart do?

The purpose of your heart is to pump blood to the organs and tissues of your body that need the oxygen and nutrients it carries. Oxygen-rich blood is pumped out of the left side of your heart (shown on the right in the diagram) into the arteries to these tissues and organs.

Blood that has delivered its nutrients and oxygen and is in need of oxygen comes back to your heart in the veins and enters the right hand side of the heart (on left of diagram). This blood which is in need of oxygen (so-called deoxygenated blood) is sent to your lungs to pick up oxygen and get rid of carbon dioxide.

Your heart pumps all day to circulate blood around the body. On average, a red blood cell in the circulation will pass through the heart every 45 seconds. If you start to exert yourself your heart will start to pump faster to supply your working muscles with the increased amount of oxygen and nutrients they need. The heart is a muscle too, and to enable it to pump effectively, it has its own blood supply bringing it oxygen.

How does your heart work?

Your heart is made up of 2 pumps. The pump on the right hand side receives blood that has already delivered its oxygen round the body and sends this blood to the lungs to pick up more oxygen (and get rid of carbon dioxide).

The pump on the left hand side receives oxygen-rich blood and then pumps it out into the arteries to deliver its oxygen around the body.

Blood in need of oxygen enters heart

Blood in need of oxygen from around the body travels in the veins to the heart. This blood in need of oxygen (also called deoxygenated blood) is usually shown as blue or purple on diagrams.

This ‘deoxygenated’ blood enters the top right hand side chamber (shown on left in diagram) of the heart, which is called the right atrium, via two large veins. Blood from the upper body, e.g. the head and arms, comes in via the superior vena cava. Blood from the lower body, that is the trunk and legs, comes in via the inferior vena cava.

Blood passes from right atrium to right ventricle

When the right atrium fills, the blood then passes through a one-way door (valve) called the tricuspid valve into the right ventricle. The valve stops blood from flowing backwards into the right atrium once it’s in the right ventricle. The right ventricle relaxes and venous blood in need of oxygen flows in.

Right ventricle sends blood needing oxygen to the lungs

The blood needing oxygen is pumped out of the right ventricle, through the pulmonary valve into the pulmonary artery. The pulmonary artery then divides into the right and left pulmonary arteries, carrying blood to the right and left lungs. In the lungs the blood gives up its carbon dioxide and picks up oxygen.

Oxygen-rich blood from lungs enters heart

Fresh blood full of oxygen leaves the lungs and comes back to the heart in the pulmonary veins. This oxygen-rich blood enters the left atrium — the top left chamber of the heart (on right of diagram).

Blood passes from left atrium to left ventricle

When the left atrium is full it pushes the blood through the mitral valve into the left ventricle.

Left ventricle sends oxygen-rich blood around body

The left ventricle relaxes and fills up with blood before squeezing and pumping the oxygen-rich blood through the aortic valve into the aorta — the main artery that carries blood to your body. The muscle wall of the left ventricle is very thick because it has to pump blood around the whole body.

How a healthy heart works | Heart and Stroke Foundation

Heart

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Your heart

Your heart is a muscle. Its job is to pump blood around your body.

Heart facts:

• It is about the size of your fist.
• It is protected by your ribs and breastbone (sternum).
• It beats about 100,000 times a day.

Each beat of your heart pumps blood through a network of arteries and veins.

The heart pumping

• Blood delivers essential oxygen and nutrients to every cell.
• Blood takes away waste products and carbon dioxide.
• Arteries carry oxygen-rich blood from the heart throughout the body.
• Veins carry oxygen-poor blood back to your heart and lungs to start the cycle over again.

Like any other muscle, the heart needs its own supply of oxygen-rich blood to function. The coronary arteries handle this job. Coronary artery disease is when the coronary arteries become narrowed or blocked so your heart does not get enough oxygen to do its job effectively.

Anatomy of the heart

Your heart is divided into four sections or chambers. The two chambers on the top are called atria and the two chambers on the bottom are called ventricles.

A muscular wall called the septum separates the right side of the heart from the left. 

On the right side of the heart, there is a right atrium and a right ventricle. The right side receives oxygen-poor blood from the rest of the body.
 
On the left side of the heart, there is a left atrium and a left ventricle. The left side receives oxygen-rich blood from the lungs.
 
The four chambers are separated by one-way valves that open and close with every heartbeat. There are four heart valves. 

1. Aortic valve
2. Tricuspid valve
3. Pulmonary valve
4. Mitral valve

These one-way valves keep the blood flowing in one direction through the different chambers of the heart and out to the body. The heart “beats” that your doctor hears with their stethoscope is the sound of your valves opening and closing to let blood through.
 
Valves that don’t work properly can lead to different types of valvular heart disease. For example, If a valve doesn’t close correctly, blood may leak between the chambers or flow backwards (valve regurgitation, insufficiency or incompetence). If a valve becomes narrowed (valve stenosis), blood flow through the heart may be restricted. Valves can be damaged by infection (endocarditis), rheumatic heart disease, congenital heart defect, normal aging and wear.

How your heart works

To pump blood throughout the body, your heart contracts then relaxes. This action is similar to clenching and unclenching your fist. With each beat of your heart, blood is pushed through your arteries. This is what creates your pulse.

How blood flows through the heart 

1. The right atrium is full of oxygen-poor blood from your body (muscles, organs, brain and heart). When the right atrium becomes full, it contracts. When the atrium contracts, the tricuspid valve between the right atrium and the right ventricle opens. The blood flows into the right ventricle.
2. When the right ventricle is full it contracts and pumps the blood to the lungs through the pulmonary valve
3. In the lungs, carbon dioxide is removed and fresh oxygen is added to the blood. The blood is now oxygen-rich. Oxygen-rich blood then flows into the left atrium.
4. When the left atrium contracts, the mitral valve between the left atrium and left ventricle opens. The blood flows into the left ventricle.
5. The left ventricle pumps the oxygen-rich blood into the aorta through the aortic valve and out to the rest of your body.
6. The oxygen-rich blood travels throughout your body. Veins carry the oxygen-poor body back to the right atrium. The right atrium fills with oxygen-poor blood. The cycle begins again.

Heart rate

Your heart rate is the number of times your heart beats per minute. Normal heart rate varies from person to person, but a normal adult resting heart rate is usually about 60 to 100 beats per minute. During rest, your heartbeat will slow down. With exercise, it will beat faster. Knowing your heart rate can help you spot health problems.
 
There is an electrical system inside your heart that controls the rate (speed) and rhythm of your heart. A normal heart rhythm is called normal sinus rhythm (NSR).
 
When there is a problem with your heart rhythm or rate, it is called arrhythmia.

The heart’s electrical system

An electrical system in the heart makes sure the heart beats in a regular rhythm and normal rate. It starts with an electrical signal in the right atrium, at the SA Node (sinoatrial node). The electrical signal then spreads throughout the heart from top to bottom (from atria to ventricles). As one part contracts, the others relax in a sequence.

The heart’s electrical system 

1. The electrical signal travels from the SA node to the atria causing them to contract pumping blood into the ventricles.
2. Then it goes to the AV node (atrioventricular node) between the atria and the ventricles. The signal is held there for a moment while the blood is being pumped into the ventricles.
3. Then the signal moves to the ventricles through fibres inside the septum and ventricle walls called “bundle of His” and “Purkinje fibres”. This makes the ventricles contract – sending blood to the lungs and to the rest of your body.
4. This makes the ventricles contract – sending blood to the lungs and to the rest of your body.

An electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) is a test that helps to diagnose a problem with your heart’s electrical system. It measures electrical signals as line tracings on paper.

Related information

The Health e-University has a detailed explanation of how the heart works.

To find useful services to help you on your journey with heart disease, see our services and resources listing.

Get in touch and we’ll be happy to help.

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Scientists figured out why the heart beats

03/07/2017 at 17:04

The science

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A team of researchers from the Royal Institute of Technology in Sweden have found out why humans and many other living creatures have a heartbeat – strangely enough, so far scientists have not had an answer to this question. According to experts, the heart beats thanks to hydraulics.

Photo: Natalia Gubernatorova

The mechanisms that cause the heart to pump blood around the body are only partially understood to date, and primarily we are talking about the stage of this cyclic process called diastole, when the heart relaxes to receive blood. To better understand this process, experts have resorted to a special form of magnetic resonance imaging, which allows you to observe the work of the heart. As a result, experts were able to track changes in the size of the chambers of the heart and came to the conclusion that at the stage of diastole, hydraulic processes play an important role in this – approximately the same that make hydraulic brakes possible. Moreover, it is the decrease in hydraulic force that may be the cause of some heart problems, experts say.

According to scientists, until now the role of hydraulics in the work of the heart has not been taken into account. Experts tend to attribute this to a “bias” of an even larger scale – in their opinion, the process of filling the heart with blood has so far received less attention than its subsequent “pushing out”, and less attention has been paid to the work of the atria than the work of the ventricles. Because of this, some cardiologists trying to find the causes of heart problems, at times, could go down a deliberately wrong path. The prepared study, as its authors hope, will make it possible to cope with various heart diseases much more effectively in the future and will lead to the emergence of new methods of therapy.

Article by scientists published in Scientific Reports.

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  Dmitry Istrov

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“Why stabs? Why is it loud? Surely not a heart attack? A cardiologist answers frequently asked questions about the heart

Everyone once had a tingling and heart palpitation. Or start pounding like crazy. Many close relatives suffer from “heart” diseases. CityDog.by asked the cardiologist the most frequent questions about the heart – what Belarusians most often look for in search engines.

Irina Lutik
cardiologist of the highest category

stabs, freezes, “tumbles”

I periodically have stabs in the heart area, why?

– This is a vegetative phenomenon, pain is not entirely of cardiac origin . Short-term tingling in the chest is more common in adolescents, young people, and children. In their words, “the heart is very prickly.” But, fortunately, they have no real heart problems. In fact, unstable growing, not adapted to life vessels react in this way to vivid emotions and stresses. Stitching pain in the left side of the chest is not terrible, especially in adolescents, and is not life threatening.

It is worth paying attention to tingling in the chest if they become frequent, bother you all day, are related to the position of the body. Then we go to the doctor and rule out cardiac pathology: we do an electrocardiogram, tells the symptoms. Sometimes such stabbing pains are associated with interruptions in the work of the heart, inflammation of a passing nerve or pectoral muscle.

And why does the heart sometimes go astray and stop?

– Heart rate can be irregular for many reasons. Among them are problems with the heart itself, located just above the thyroid gland, frequent stress. Autonomic heart rhythm disturbances are of two types: daytime (associated with the work of the sympathetic nervous system (adrenaline release)) and nighttime (the so-called “vagus kingdom” – a nerve that is active when we lie down and sleep).

“Fading” of the heart or a feeling of sinking-somersault in the chest is considered a classic sign of extrasystoles – premature contractions of the heart. The fact is that a separate contraction escaped out of turn, and the pause after it, trying to balance the rhythm, is delayed. A short run of such extraordinary contractions is felt as a cough.

A sharp decrease in heart rate, fraught with dizziness and fainting, is a consequence of inflammation or infarction of the heart muscle, weakness of the cardiac pacemaker.

Surprisingly, heart failure may be normal. Do not panic because of one “somersault” in the chest, and even more so immediately take medication.

…Sometimes the heart beats so loudly that you can feel it in your throat.

– Carotid arteries located on the sides of the neck help to feel the heartbeat. When the pulse speeds up, the arteries begin to pulsate more strongly, and due to this, there is a feeling that the heart “pops out of the chest.” Low stress resistance and the desire to take everything “to heart” amplify the volume in your headphones.

Is it normal to have a much faster heart rate after a normal shopping trip?

– Of course, this is a load. There is a special formula to estimate the increase in heart rate for physical activity: (220 – age) × 0.75 . The resulting number is the submaximal heart rate, which evaluates whether the load is right for you. The formula is used in the process of training, but not after going to the store across the street.

When heart palpitations occur, measure the pulse rate and compare with the number 9 obtained by the formula0104 . Sometimes it seems to us that the pulse is frequent, but when counting its values ​​do not reach 80 beats per minute. If your pulse still did not meet the coveted number, and you are young and beautiful, just remember the last time you walked around the city or did morning exercises. Low physical activity does not train the pulse, and its increase for an unusual load will be greater than that of those who run kilometers a day.

Arrhythmia

What is an arrhythmia?

– Arrhythmia is a concept that combines irregular contractions associated with slowing down or speeding up the conduction of a nerve impulse in certain areas of the heart muscle. With any suspicion of an arrhythmia, it is better to go to the doctor.

What are her symptoms?

– Extrasystole type extraordinary contraction feels like “turning over” in the chest with subsequent fading. If there was a run of several extrasystoles, a dry cough will occur.

Slowdown of the conduction impulse according to the type of AV blockade can be manifested by dizziness, flashing “flies” before the eyes, the same fading in the chest, in extreme cases – fainting. The reason for such a bright clinic is a prolonged pause during the transition of the conductive impulse from the upper parts of the heart to the lower parts and the lack of oxygen delivery to the brain. In the beginning it doesn’t bother me at all. Rare “flies” before the eyes can always be attributed to the weather, but fainting and daily dizziness are a reason to see a doctor.

Heart attack

Does your heart always hurt when you have problems with it?

– In fact, pain is not the only sign of heart problems. In addition, the very concept of heart pain must be distinguished from other chest pains. A classic sign of a diseased heart is a feeling of compression, squeezing on the anterior surface of the chest at the time of movement (often walking), passing when stopping and resting in a few minutes. The equivalent of heart pain is shortness of breath with the same characteristics (associated with movement, short-term rest), although it occurs more often in old age.

Alas, a heart attack can be completely asymptomatic or manifest as a speech disorder, movement coordination, disorientation, one-sided weakness in the arms and legs (signs of a stroke).

And if there is not always pain during a heart attack, how to understand that it is a heart attack?

– The best way to recognize a heart attack is to make a cardiogram, but not for everyone, but if you suspect it. A heart attack can be suspected if: pressing and squeezing pains in the middle of the chest, aggravated by walking; severe shortness of breath (when at rest), loss of consciousness, sudden weakness in arms and legs on one side . And more stomach pains. If they are strong, accompanied by profuse sweating, weakness, nausea, vomiting, one must remember to take an ECG. Because the abdominal form of myocardial infarction begins just like that.

Does the pressing sensation in the region of the heart happen only because of a heart attack?

– If pressure is constant, look for high pressure. Less often – problems with the spine, such as a hernia. The pressure in the chest that increases with bending is a sign of fluid accumulation in the heart sac (pericardium).

Stress

I get nervous a lot, is that bad for my heart?

– Emotional distress is the number one risk factor. They start all diseases in general, but heart diseases most of all. Under conditions of stress, the body releases hormones that trigger the activity of the hormones of the sympathetic nervous system, which in turn increase the pulse rate and increase blood pressure. Such well-coordinated work of the body under stress is a protective reaction aimed at survival, because all organs begin to work an order of magnitude faster. Naturally, the heart and blood vessels wear out earlier.

How can you protect yourself from this?

– First, you need to sit down and figure out where the stress comes from , analyze what you were doing at the moment when the pulse quickened, compare causes and effects. We wrote down all the reasons in a week – to find easily eliminated ones and work them out.

Second, decide if you have goals in life. If not – put them on. One, two, three, up to 100 per year . It is very motivating and creates a framework against all diseases, including those of the heart. Especially if this goal ignites a person, contributes to the improvement of the world. Many do not understand that a person lives for something, and not just goes to work, eats and drinks, raises children. Believe me, a focused person will get sick less often.

Third, meditation . So many work centers abroad, in the same USA, have relaxation rooms with soothing music, meditation rooms, arrange lunch breaks outside the institution to switch attention from work to recuperation.

Fourth, no one canceled effective time management . When a person performs several jobs at the same time, and he is also distracted, attention is scattered so much that there is no strength left for rest and self-love, and what can be done for three rates, focusing and resting, is done in a year.

Can sedatives help?

– Can. If a person himself is not able to cope with the problem, find its causes and pull them out by the roots. There are many sedatives, the same alcohol tinctures (a favorite first aid for the elderly), pills on medicinal plants, and in extreme cases, chemicals.

But we must remember that by taking drugs, we rather relieve ourselves of responsibility for the fact that we do not change anything in life, and stress does not go away.

Sports, sedentary work, bad habits

What are the safest and most beneficial workouts for the cardiovascular system? They say that the heart can be “planted” by doing crossfit, for example.

– Definitely cardio. Morning exercises, exercises with cardio equipment (treadmill, exercise bike, elliptical), dosed long-distance running (not immediately 5 km!), walking (including Scandinavian), swimming, yoga.

You can “plant” the heart by exercising at a clearly excessive pace, without regularity and purpose, having a motley bouquet of untreated diseases, and any kind of physical activity. If, however, gradually increase the pace under the control of the pulse, well-being, respiratory rate, etc., the sad consequences are minimized.

What else is bad for the heart? It is said that sedentary work is very harmful.

– Yes, physical inactivity or a sedentary lifestyle is very harmful to the heart and blood vessels. The heart must be trained, and after 30 years must move more than before 30 . Unfortunately, having matured, we acquire cars, apartments, stop running to work, don’t run on dates, we only go by elevator and cars, for some reason preferring holidays in Turkey with an all-inclusive system to hiking in forests or mountains.

Accelerate heart problems diabetes mellitus, high and untreated blood pressure figures, smoking for the company and not only, an abundance of work, lack of rest and sleep, unhealthy diet, quick snacks, fast foods, runs to McDonald’s for a burger and cola, stress we can’t handle.

Is it possible to restore the heart after damage? If, for example, I smoked for 15 years, and then I quit.

– Damage to the heart – the result of a heart attack or trauma. In the first case, we are talking about a scar or an area that falls out of the well-coordinated mechanism of cardiac output. And no, scars don’t heal.

Smoking does not cause damage to the heart muscle, it creates a background of areas receiving less or more oxygen and nutrients. As a result, rough connective tissue grows, which supports the function of our “motor”, but does not injure it. The background from smoking may be improving, but only after 10-20 years, when the plaques that have grown from impaired cholesterol metabolism have already caused harm.

What can I do now to have less heart problems later?

– Remove bad habits and replace them with healthy ones. A habit takes 21 days to take root. All bad habits can be replaced with good ones, but not immediately, but gradually, because the body must get used to them. First, we start the day with a charge of 10-15 minutes. As soon as we get used to such loads, we begin to drink 1.5 liters of water a day. Then we introduce breathing exercises at lunchtime, etc.

We buy a bicycle and make it the main mode of transport for summer cottages or evening rides in the park with friends. Of course, you can also use it to work, provided that it takes 20-30 minutes to get there, and not 3 hours. All within reasonable limits.

Start running, run marathons and half marathons. 20-30 minutes 2 times a week after work, in the morning or on weekends. Stop snacking at night, start getting enough sleep, respect others, treat everyone well, always be in a good mood, give thanks for everything in your life, and calmly contribute to the world.

Food

What should you eat to keep your heart and blood vessels in good condition?

– Fruits for breakfast, vegetables for lunch, fish, greens, chicken if you are a meat eater. The cooking method is important: a minimum of heat treatment, for meat – steamed or baked in the oven.

Avocados, nuts, seeds, cereals (except semolina), pastries made from whole grain, rice, corn, flax flour, replacing sugar with Jerusalem artichoke syrup are welcome. And do not forget about water: 30 ml per kilogram of weight per day, provided that there are no contraindications for its use, such as kidney disease, atrial fibrillation.

Age, heredity

If my grandmother and father constantly treat my heart, does this mean that I also have problems ?

– This means that there is the same background. Genetic predisposition is actually a very important factor in similar thoughts, words and deeds. But if we radically change our attitude to life, this background may not appear at all. For example, high blood pressure in a father who lives in stress and eats once a day after 6:00 pm will not occur in a son who travels the world, does what he loves and lives in joy.

How often do you need to examine the heart?

– Under 40, if you lead a healthy lifestyle, you do not need to have a special heart examination. You can do ultrasound of the heart every five years, if the doctor did not initially find problems on ultrasound (if there are complaints of a cardiac nature), take tests and do a cardiogram once a year .

After the age of 40, it is better to fully examine the cardiovascular system once every 2-3 years, especially for men. If changes are found, undergo an examination once a year (atherosclerosis still does not sleep).

Why “especially men”?

– Because men under stress, having risk factors, are more prone to heart disease, the same heart attacks.

How does age affect the state of the heart and blood vessels?

– Until the age of 40, age has almost no effect on the heart. After 40, both men and women can have problems. For the first – because it is believed that a man lives in stress more and his reserve capacity of the heart and blood vessels fail faster. In addition, men are more likely to smoke, drink alcohol, eat fast food on the go. And this plus three more risk factors. The second – from sleepless nights and an abundance of work. Even despite the fact that until the age of 50 women are protected from heart and vascular diseases by sex hormones.

If I had heart problems as a child, will they always be?

– “Problems” with the heart in childhood are mostly associated with the characteristics of the growing organism: hormonal changes, childhood insults, crying, etc. You can’t call them major changes. Children usually outgrow them. Inflammation of the heart muscle, heart defects and some types of rhythm disturbances pass into adulthood.

Is it true that all overweight people sooner or later will have heart problems?

– Yes, it is actually true. Only this is not a consequence of the fact that a person is overweight, but a consequence of the fact that in addition to being overweight there are other risk factors. After all, a person gets fat most often from malnutrition, low physical activity. And if there is excess weight, then there is a violation of cholesterol metabolism, the pancreas works under load, increasing the risk of developing diabetes.

Excess weight is one of the factors in the occurrence of heart disease. One, but not the main one.

Other diseases

What symptoms should I immediately go to the doctor with?

– Reason to see a doctor – obsessive daily squeezing, pressing, stabbing chest pains, headaches, severe fatigue at the end of the working day, dizziness, short-term speech impairment, severe weakness in the arms and legs on one side, sudden shortness of breath at night time, pain in the abdomen, from which cold sticky sweat appears, loss of consciousness.

What diseases of other organs can affect the heart and blood vessels?

– The heart is usually affected by failures in the work of neighboring organs. The thyroid gland affects the most (inflammation, nodes in it, removal of this organ).

The lungs are also nearby, but they rarely affect the heart: only with severe pneumonia or prolonged bronchitis, microbes can enter the heart muscle and cause inflammation – myocarditis.