Understanding how the heart works

Understanding how the heart works: The heart is an organ that is responsible for pumping blood throughout the body to supply oxygen, so that all organs function normally. If you don't get oxygen, your body's tissue will be damaged and die. Let's understand how the heart works in pumping blood, and what diseases can interfere with the workings of these organs.

Understanding how the heart works

The heart works nonstop to support the circulatory system. In addition to the heart as its center, this system also consists of blood vessel tissues, such as arteries (arteries), veins (veins), and capillaries.

Recognizing How the Heart Works

There are four chambers of the heart that are involved in the work of the heart to pump blood from and throughout the body. The four chambers of the heart are the atrium (heart chambers) right and left at the top of the heart, and the ventricles (chambers of the heart) right and left at the bottom of the heart.

The right porch of the heart will receive dirty blood or which contains little oxygen (because it binds to carbon dioxide) from the body, then this dirty blood is flowed into the right chamber. Then by the right chamber, dirty blood will be pumped towards the lungs to exchange carbon dioxide with oxygen.

After the exchange occurs, the blood that has been filled with oxygen will be pumped into the left porch, then proceed to the left ventricle of the heart to flow throughout the body through the large blood vessels (aorta).

The four heart chambers are separated by a heart septum, and are equipped with four valves. The function of the heart valve in helping the heart work is to regulate the direction of blood flow, so that blood does not flow back to the previous room. The four valves are:

• Tricuspid valve, which is located between the right foyer and the right ventricle of the heart.
• Pulmonary valve, which is located between the heart and blood vessels to the lungs.
• The mitral valve, which is located between the left porch and the left ventricle of the heart.
• Aortic valve, which is located between the heart and large blood vessels leading to the whole body.

Cardiac Disorders

Disorders of the heart can appear in any part of the heart, ranging from the walls of the heart muscle, heart valves, to the electrical conduct of the heart which causes abnormal heart rhythms. Any disturbance in the heart can affect the way the heart works in pumping blood.

Disorders can also occur in the coronary arteries, which are blood vessels that provide blood and oxygen intake to the heart muscle. Coronary blood vessels can be blocked by plaque, so that blood flow to the heart muscle is blocked. This condition is called atherosclerosis.

Blockages in the coronary arteries will eventually cause heart disease, if the heart muscle has experienced lack of oxygen. When the supply of blood and oxygen to an area of ​​the heart is completely blocked, a heart attack will occur. Symptoms include chest pain such as being crushed, and radiating to the neck, jaw, or arms, cold sweat, shortness of breath, and weakness.

To maintain the work of the heart and minimize the risk of heart problems, you are advised to exercise regularly, eat healthy and nutritious foods, reduce salt consumption, maintain ideal body weight, control blood pressure and cholesterol levels, get enough sleep, do not smoke, and limit drinking alcoholic beverages.

You are also advised to do a routine check up to your heart doctor, especially if you feel any symptoms of heart problems, such as chest pain, shortness of breath, fatigue, and swelling in the legs.

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