You see and hear about hearts everywhere, from the Valentine’s Day cards you send to friends to the sad songs you hear on the radio when they sing about heartbreak, but your heart is not actually heart-shaped. So what does the heart look like? What does the heart actually do? Let’s find out.
Your heart is a muscle! It’s located to the left of the middle of your chest and it’s about the size of your fist. The heart sends blood around your body, which provides oxygen and nutrients it needs. It also carries away waste. Your heart works like a pump, actually two pumps in one. The right side of your heart receives blood from your body and pumps it to the lungs. The left side of your heart does the exact opposite it receives blood from the lungs and pumps it out into the body.
The heart is made up of four different blood-filled areas, or chambers. The two chambers on top are called the Atria, if you’re only talking about one it’s called an Atrium. The atria are the chambers that fill with the blood returning to the heart from the body and the lungs. The heart has a left and right atrium.
The two chambers on the bottom are called the Ventricles, and your heart has a right and a left side ventricle. Their job is to squirt blood to the body and the lungs. Running down the middle of the heart is a thick wall or muscle called the Septum. The septum’s job is to separate the left side and the ride side of the heart.
Your heart starts out healthy, but it’s your job to keep it in good shape. Here are some heart healthy tips:
Remember that your heart is a muscle and to continue to be strong, it needs exercise
Eat a variety of healthy foods and limit your intake of unhealthy fats
Eat at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables each day
Avoid sugary drinks
Don’t smoke. It can damage the heart and blood vessels
So now you know that your heart doesn’t look like a valentine, but it sure deserves to be loved for all the work it does. It started pumping blood before you were born and will continue pumping throughout your whole life.
Mesa Pediatric Urgent Care and Gilbert Pediatric Urgent Care
When it comes to your child’s healthcare needs, AllKids Urgent Care knows what it takes to get your child better. Our pediatric providers, at both the Mesa and Gilbert offices, are available every day from noon to 10 p.m., ensuring pediatric care is available to children when they need it most. No appointment is necessary, just stop in and start your child on the road back to health.