Four-Chambered Organ

Anatomically defined, the heart is a four-chambered organ whose main function is to pump blood through the vascular system thus making possible the process of cellular oxygenation and carbon dioxide transportation. In short, it is one of the most important organs that we have in our body. I’m very sure that a lot of Cardiologists will agree, hopefully not to the disdain of other specialists.

February is known as the heart month not only because of Valentine’s Day but literally as well, in order to promote awareness and prevention of heart diseases (Proclamation 1096 of 1973). Heart disease has always been included in the top ten list of mortality and morbidity in the Philippines.

While cardiac diseases can pertain to a broad spectrum of diseases, including congenital malformations, data will point out that our lifestyle is one of the main culprit.

And when we say lifestyle it refers to our food, our activity, and our preferences, and so just like the song that goes…please be careful with my heart…we modify it a little bit, and say… please be careful of our hearts, we need to take care of our hearts so that we can continue loving and caring.

Let me end by sharing the three E’s of caring for your heart:

1. Eat right: Less fat and less salt if not contraindicated by your doctor
2. Exercise within your limit, and it will help if you do it regularly
3. Enjoy life, a sad heart always surrenders easily