HEART

The heart pumps blood through the circulatory system to all the major organs of
the body.

-The heart consist of 4 chambers ,2 upper atria and 2 lower ventricles.

-Blood enters the heart through the atria from large veins
-Pulmonary vein brings oxygenated blood from the lungs to the left atrium.
-Vena cava brings deoxygenated blood from body tissues into the right atrium.
Blood passes from each atrium to the corresponding ventricles.
-The sides of the heart are separated by a wall of muscles known as the Septum.
- The artery carrying oxygenated blood to the body from the left ventricles is the
Aorta.
-In the pumping action of the heart muscles , the artria walls contract later
followed by ventricle walls.
- Valves prevent blood flowing backward during or after heart contraction.
- - NB; The 3 main ways by which the heart activity can be monitored include ,
Pulse rate(Fingers at wrist), Heart Sounds( Stethoscope),and
ECG ( Electrocardiogram)
 EFFECTS OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY ON THE PULSE RATE

• Pulse is the pressure wave through arteries as a result of heart

beats. At rest the heart beats about 70times a minute but varies
with age ,gender and fitness . Pulse rate is higher in younger
people and females.
• CORONARY HEART DISEASE
• When the lining of the arteries have deposits of fatty substances . These
patches become numerous and large initiating a blood clotting process which
blocks the artery opening forming an Atheroma. The patches may join up to
form a continuous layer which reduces the diameter of the vessel. When blood
clots inside the vessel it forms a thrombus. Therefore blood clotting at the
coronary artery may stop the beating of the heart or severe heart attack
because heart muscle cells are deprived of nutrients and oxygen.
• Partial blocking of the blood vessels opening is known as Agina leading to pain
at the chest during exercises.
 Causes of Coronary Heart Disease
• 1) DIET ; Atheroma deposits contain Cholesterol. People with high levels of
blood cholesterol are more likely to suffer from heart attacks.This is
influenced by the intake of fat diet such as butter, cheese,fatty meat. An
inbalanced diet with too much calories can lead to obesity and makes it
difficult for the person to exercise.
• 2)Emotional stress. Stress raises blood pressure .HBP increases the rate of
the atheroma formed in the arteries.
• 3) Smoking; Carbonmonoxide and other cigarette chemicals damage arteries
lining , forming atheroma thereby blocking the heart blood vessels from
pumping blood.
• 4) Genetics ; Coronary disease appears to be passed from one generation to
the next in some families
• 5) Age and Gender.. The older have risk of suffering from heart disease,males
are more at risk because they tend to form on lining of artery.
• 6) Lack of exercise ; The heart muscles become less efficient when exercise is
less regular and may allow atheroma to form on lining of artery.