What is the heart?

Most of us have a general idea of what this biological beating machine lodged inside our chests is the heart. A lot of us really do not know how it actually works. Yes, we know that it pumps blood and keeps doing so as we speak, but how does heart really work?

The heart is a muscular organ that belongs to the cardiovascular system. It pumps blood to each and every corner of our body. Our body comprises a network of blood vessels carrying blood which contains oxygen.  Which our cells are reliant to in order for them to function.

The two main types of blood vessels are the vein and the artery. The vein is the primary vessel that carries unoxygenated blood. In contrast, the artery is the blood vessel that contains oxygenated blood. The heart is the mechanism that keeps our organs and tissues oxygen-rich and therefore keeps us alive, healthy and functioning.

Imagine the circulatory system as a city railway system, and the heart is the main central station; it is the main source of passengers and the power source for the trains. The city and the buildings within it is the entire body, the people are the oxygen and nutrients, the trains are the blood, and the railways are the blood vessels.

Workers go inside the central station then ride the trains where they will be taken to their respective destinations. There they will work and keep the city alive. Blockage in the railways and problems in the main central station will cause problems. This will prevent the people from going to work and may have very bad effects on the system. Same goes for our cardiovascular system.

There are some things you can do in order to improve and keep your heart healthy …

Food is one of life’s greatest pleasures. From steaks to French fries to our occasional indulgence to wine and fresh seafood platters, food is a great gift for us all to enjoy. Though food isn’t all about taste, food is our primary source of nutrition. What we eat affects how we feel and how our body operates. It is essential to have a balanced diet and adequate amount of water intake for us to be healthy. Excess and the lack of certain foods will definitely affect our hearts and predisposes us to heart disease and other cardiovascular illness. We will discuss in detail what we can do to change our diet in order for us to have a healthier heart. Before we go into detail and cannot stress this enough, it is best to consult our physician and nutritionist to give us guidance in planning our diet.

Water

Our bodies are made up of approximately 60 – 70{b91d9daa4ecb925a4d66f4a18ad6d9aae920791e62411a070901cef80c7f8e58} of water, which is why you need to maintain that by drinking enough water every day. Water hydrates the body, giving us more oxygen thus helps in feeds our cells to maintain optimum functionality. Studies also suggest that the regular intake of adequate H2O lessens the likelihood of having a heart attack. Water also increases our metabolism helping us lose weight as well as lessening our caloric intake. Avoid carbonated drinks and energy drinks, milkshakes and sugary juices instead just have water. The more that we maintain our weight, we lessen our heart’s stress. So remember to drink up and hydrate all throughout the day!

Fruits and Greens

We may not like our greens but vegetables help our heart more than we know. Fruits and vegetables contain a lot of essential vitamins and minerals that are needed by our bodies. These low-calorie treats are also high in fiber that helps our bodies detoxify plus it is easy for us to include these in our daily meals. We can easily include these in our snacks, soups and regular meals as a side dish. Incorporation of fruits and vegetables in our diet helps us lessen the intake of unhealthy foods high in trans-fat. However, it is very important to note that when preparing our meals, we must wash and store these fruits and vegetables properly and buy fresh to avoid any gastrointestinal illnesses.

Exercise

Exercise gives the body optimum circulation, and when we exercise, our body releases happy hormones that help us relieve stress and eventually make us happier and healthier. There are a lot of ways for us to exercise and knowing what type of exercise is important for us to create a regular routine.
Again, consulting a physician and having a regular visit for your assessment is the best thing to do first before engaging in any type of exercise. Starting to build your routine is the hardest step in this process. It is good to have an exercise partner to help motivate us in continuously doing our routine. Music can also keep us going when exercising. Enrolling in a gym also reaps many benefits such as personal trainer guidance and learning new routines. Though preference may differ, there are very useful steps that we can take for us to start our routine. In this chapter, we will discuss the common types of exercise as well as tips on how to maintain our weight.

Remember, maintaining a healthy heart isn’t easy. It takes a combination of a lot of things and dealing with multiple factors for it to be successful. Just to remind and summarize it all up, we must take note of our familial history and current disposition for us. To get a view of what diseases we are at high risk to develop. Visit our local health professionals for a good assessment. To know the status of our health especially our heart. Drink the adequate amounts of water, eat a proper diet with the right amount of proportions including regular intake of vitamins and minerals away from excess unhealthy fat and food high in sugar. Have a regular exercise routine to clean off the plaque, fat inside our blood vessels and circulation, maintain our optimal weight and detoxify the wastes inside our body. Avoid smoking, excessive alcohol intake and have a good outlet for stress.