How Does the Heart Work?

The heart is a muscle approximately the size of a fist that relies on oxygen and nutrients to function. Its sole purpose is to pump blood throughout the body. The heart beats, or expands and contacts, in order to move the blood through the circulatory system. This complex system of veins and arteries is responsible for transporting the blood that is continuously pumping in and out of the heart.

Coronary Artery Disease and the Heart

Coronary artery disease is a condition in which the arteries that supply blood to the heart become clogged with plaque or a combination of cholesterol, calcium and fat that floats through the bloodstream. As the plaque builds over time, the arteries are less flexible and become narrow, making it difficult for blood to pass by. This hardening and narrowing decreases not only the amount of blood passing through but also the amount of oxygen. A lack of oxygen–filled blood weakens the heart and causes it to work much harder to perform its constant duty of pumping. A weakened, tired heart makes the body susceptible to any number of heart–related conditions, including angina, heart attack, and eventual heart failure.

Preventing coronary artery disease begins with knowing which risk factors you have and taking an active role in making sure to control those factors that are preventable. Likewise, taking the necessary medicines as prescribed by your doctor may make the difference between developing coronary artery disease and preventing it.

However, sometimes this active role can only delay the disease. When this is the case, it is even more important to make the necessary adjustments to your diet and exercise routine as well as to monitor your cholesterol and blood pressure levels. According to the National Heart, Blood, and Lung Institute, doing so can help prevent heart damage as a result of decreased oxygen supply, a sudden heart attack and related heart damage, death from a sudden heart attack or stroke, and arrhythmia or an irregular heart beat.