A Student's Guide to the Heart

When it comes to investigating how the human body functions, the heart is at the center of it all. Much like the motor of a car, it is a crucial organ that enables us to stay alive. Unlike many of our other organs, the heart works continuously without a break. Even while the body is at rest during sleep, the heart is one of the few organs that continues to work. For all its complexity, the heart is essentially a type of pump. Just like any machine, to do its job, the heart needs to be in good condition: free of clogs and any weaknesses. It is up to each of us to take care of our heart and ensure that it is healthy. Heart disease in the U.S. is the most common cause of death, affecting around two thousand people every day! However, on the plus side, this rate has actually been slowly decreasing in recent years. Preventing heart disease is much better than trying to cure it once it occurs. Many heart conditions can only show their symptoms very suddenly. Often, by the time people try to fix it, it is already too late. It is important to understand what our hearts do and how we can help keep them as healthy as possible. In this way, we can be more aware about risks that can endanger the heart. By learning about the heart, we can educate ourselves about how to live healthier lives and avoid heart disease.