From the time we are embryos in our mothers' wombs until the day we die the heart is the most important organ in our body. Interestingly, it begins to beat independently from our nervous system before our neurons fully develop, which adds a certain mystique to this most essential organ.
The heart is composed of specialized muscle cells that allow it to never stop beating and it is a major component of the circulatory system that is composed of arteries, veins and capillaries. Altogether, there are about 60,000 miles of blood vessels in the human body that the heart pumps blood through at a rate determined by electrical nodes embedded in its muscle tissue like small natural pacemakers.
Over decades of life certain changes develop in the heart muscle similar to the less efficient function that occurs in the muscles of our legs, arms and other parts of the body as we age. Some of these changes include:
A slower heart rate
An increase in size and thickening of the chamber walls
A tendency to beat irregularly
Stiffening and thickening of its valves
These are all considered a part of the normal physiological aging of the heart.
Heart disease is the number one cause of death in the United States of America. Some common diseases of the heart are:
Congestive heart failure - a very common problem in people over the age of 75 where the pumps blood less efficiently
Coronary artery disease - a narrowing of the arteries that supply blood to the heart that is the basis for angina ( chest pain ) and a myocardial infarction ( heart attack ).
Arteriosclerosis - also known as hardening of the arteries and occurs when fatty deposits like cholesterol accumulate in arteries causing them to narrow and decrease blood flow
High blood pressure - usually any measurement over 140/90 mmHg
Aortic stenosis - a narrowing of the aortic valve that controls the blood flow to the brain and other the parts of the body.
Symptoms associated with heart disease include chest pain, unusual fatigue, confusion, lightheadedness, dizziness, palpitations and shortness of breath.
What you can do:
As mentioned earlier, heart disease is the number one cause of death and is a major cause of disability in the USA. However, there are behaviors you can adopt to keep your heart healthy to avoid or lessen the chances of getting high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity and type II diabetes ~ all of which can cause your heart to age abnormally.
1) Eat a heart healthy diet that consists of high-fiber, low-fat foods. These are foods that are unprocessed, whole, mostly plant-based and natural that include vegetables of a variety of colors, fruits, whole grains, nuts and seeds.
2) Exercise regularly to prevent obesity, reduce stress, lower blood pressure and control blood sugar. The benefits of regular exercise extend to all parts of the body not just the heart. Like all other muscles, exercising heart muscle makes it stronger.
3) Avoid tobacco use - especially smoking - and avoid or limit alcohol and all illicit drug consumption.
4) Get the amount of sleep that's right for you. This is usually around 7 to 9 hours for adults. Sleep is increasingly found to be important for getting and staying healthy.
5) Manage your bad stress, called distress, in your life in a way that is healthy, constructive and enjoyable.
6) Form meaningful and supportive social connections and build a network of family and friends that you interact with frequently.
Visit the link below for a better understanding of how the heart ages.
https://player.theplatform.com/p/X6nWgC/33l7xJ5WvgeL/select/media/yx8Hs90iAnyD
For more information and support on this topic, visit www.ahadhealth.com or check out the AHAD Health & Wellness Facebook page.
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