Healthy Heart - Check it out!

Your heart is one of the body's most important organs, so it's vital to look after it. We want to help you stay on top of your health by giving you easy ways to learn about your body, keep yourself in peak condition and avoid unnecessary visits to your doctor.

Your Heart - a continuously working muscle

From the moment it begins beating until the moment it stops, the human heart works tirelessly. In an average lifetime, the heart beats more than two and a half billion times, without ever pausing to rest. Like a pumping machine, the heart muscle provides the power needed for life. The heart sends blood around your body providing it with the oxygen and nutrients it needs. It also carries away waste. The right side of your heart receives blood from the body and pumps it to the lungs. The left side of the heart receives blood from the lungs and pumps it out to the body.

Heart Parts

The heart is made up of four different blood-filled chambers. There are two chambers on each side of the heart. One chamber is on the top and one chamber is on the bottom. The two chambers on top are called the atria. The atria are the chambers that fill with the blood returning to the heart from the body and lungs. The heart has a left atrium and a right atrium.

a working heartThe two chambers on the bottom are called the ventricles. Their job is to pump the blood out to the body and lungs. The left and right side of the heart are separated by a thick wall of muscle called the septum.

There are four special valves inside the heart. Two of these heart valves (the mitral valve and the tricuspid valve) let blood flow from the atria to the ventricles. The other two (the aortic valve and pulmonary valves) control the flow as the blood leaves the heart. These valves all work to keep the blood flowing forward. They open up to let the blood move ahead, then they close quickly to keep the blood from flowing backward.

Health and Wellness

Prevention - diet, exercise, controlling blood pressure and cholesterol, avoiding stress and smoking - remains the best weapon in the fight against developing heart problems.

You do not have to follow a heavy workout regime. Walking is a great form of exercise. Brisk walking can get your heart rate up and give you a solid workout. Walking at a comfortable pace can work well for many people, too. To get you started take advantage of any opportunity for exercise. Try following some of these tips in your everyday routine.
1. Take the stairs instead of an elevator or escalator at school or when out shopping. Park your car at the far end of the car park. The short walk to and from the store or school helps your heart.
2. If you ride a bus get off a stop before your destination. Walk the rest of the way.
3. If you can, spend a few minutes of your lunch break taking a stroll. It should help you stay awake after lunch.
4. Think of housework as an extra chance to exercise. Vacuuming briskly can be a real workout.
5. Mowing the lawn, pulling weeds, and raking leaves can also be seen as a chance to exercise.
6. A brisk walk with the dog is good for both of your hearts. Make it a part of your daily routine.
7. If you have a family, schedule an after-dinner walk. Make it quality time.

If you want to have a healthy heart, you have to learn how to eat a healthy heart diet. All of the food you eat effects the health of your heart. Learn which foods are heart smart and try to include them as a regular part of your diet. A heart-healthy diet means a diet that's low in fat, cholesterol, and salt, and high in fruits, vegetables, grains, and fibre. But it doesn't mean that you can never have pizza or ice cream again - it just means choosing selectively and planning with more control. High blood pressure and high chloresterol are often the result of poor eating habits as well as a lack of physical inactivity.

The human heart's job is to pump nutrient-rich blood throughout your body. If you smoke, take drugs, or drink alcohol excessively, you are giving your heart extra work. Your heart cannot handle too much extra work over a long period of time. Over time, the health of your heart will suffer.

What happens if you ignore the recommended healthy heart habits? Perhaps nothing. Many people live long lives without paying much attention to their heart. However, it is more likely that you will develop some form of heart disease.

Chest pain? - doubt kills!

Every five minutes someone in the UK dies of a heart attack. In many cases people doubt what their body is telling them and as a result are unsure what to do. This site helps you identify heart attack symptoms and explains why calling 999 is the right thing to do.


The content of these pages is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or medical treatment.

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