Heart Care

At the center of Galichia's many services are those specifically geared towards the heart, as well as the body and mind.

Galichia's Health Tips

• Establish a healthy diet and exercise program.
• Have a good exam every year from your family physician.
• Find a way to cope with stress.

Additional Information

• Your Heart and How it Works
• Understanding Cornary Artery Disease (PDF)

External Links

• American Heart Association

Your Heart & How It Works

Your heart is a muscle. It is slightly larger than your fist and weighs less than a pound. Your heart pumps blood to the lungs and to all parts of your body.

Layers

Your heart muscle has three layers. The thickest layer is called the myocardium. It is surrounded by a fiber-like bag called the pericardium. The inside of the myocardium is lined by a thin layer called the endocardium.

Structures Of The Heart

The normal heart has four chambers. A wall divides the heart into a right side and a left side. Each side of the heart is divided in two chambers. The upper chamber is called the atrium and the lower chamber is called the ventricle. These chambers are separated by valves.

The valves allow blood to flow only in one direction. Valves direct the flow of blood through the heart, to the lungs and to the rest of the body.

• Tricuspid Valve: Separates your right atrium from your right ventricle.
• Pulmonic Valve: Separates your right ventricle from your lungs.
• Mitral Valve: Sits between your left atrium and your left ventricle.
• Aortic Valve: Controls blood flow from your left ventricle out to the rest of your body.

Blood vessels carry blood to and away from the heart. Vessels that carry blood from the heart to the body are called arteries. Vessels that carry blood from the body back to the heart are called veins.

Functions Of The Heart

Your heart acts as double pump. The right side pumps blood to your lungs, the blood picks up oxygen and then returns it to the left side. The left ventricle pumps blood to your body through the large artery, called the aorta. Oxygen is removed from your blood so it can be used by your body. Blood that has the oxygen used, returns to the right side of the heart through your veins. This process occurs with each heart beat.

Each heart beat has two phases. The resting phase is called diastole. During diastole, blood from the atria fills the ventricles. Then the ventricles pump blood to your body or lungs. This pumping phase is called systole.

The work of the heart changes with your body’s needs. For example, when you exercise, your body needs more blood and oxygen. Your heart pumps harder and faster to deliver more blood to the body. When you sleep, less blood and oxygen is needed and your heart slows down.

Blood Supply of the Heart (Coronary Arteries)

The heart must constantly receive oxygen and nutrients. These nutrients are supplied to the heart muscle itself by blood carried through vessels called coronary arteries. Three main arteries, one on the right and two on the left, supply the heart muscle with blood. These arteries come over the top of the heart and divide into many large and small branches. All parts of the heart muscle are supplied with oxygen and nutrient-rich blood through these branches. These arteries are the vessels that become narrow in coronary artery disease.

Normal Conduction

Your heart has a normal conduction or electrical system that stimulates the heart muscles to beat.

Electrical impulses travel in a normal fashion from the upper chambers to the lower chambers over this conduction system. The following diagram shows how the impulse travels over the conduction system.

• Normal heart beats begin with at the SA-node which acts as the hearts “pacemaker.”
• The electrical impulse spreads across the right and left atria.
• The impulse travels through the AV-node to the Bundle of HIS.
• The Bundle of HIS divides into a left and a right bundle branch. The impulse spreads through these bundle branches into the purkinje fibers in the ventricles.

Your heart’s main functions are to receive used blood from your body and pump fresh, oxygen-rich blood to nourish your body. To do this well, your heart valves must be working right. Your heart beat should be regular. The heart muscle itself needs a good blood supply. Your heart must be able to fill with blood and have a strong pumping action for normal function.