The Heart and Stroke Foundation

GET HEALTHY RISK FACTORS SYMPTOMS HEART EDUCATION STROKE AWARENESS EMERGENCY PROCEDURES USEFUL LINKS BUY OUR PRODUCTS

SCHOOL PROJECT INFORMATION

The function of the heart and what does the heart look like?

The heart is a muscle about the size of a clenched fist. It lies in the centre of the chest between the breastbone and the spine. The heart is a very strong and efficient muscular pump. Its job is to keep blood supplied to all parts of the body. The heart pumps about 5 litres of blood every minute. This roughly equals the entire blood volume of the body in an average man, every minute. In a day this adds up to enough to fill a petrol tanker (8000 to 11500 litres).

The heart is separated into left and right sides by a muscular wall. The left side of the heart pumps red blood containing oxygen and other fuels through the main artery (aorta) to the arteries of all parts of the body. The body uses some of the oxygen in the blood leaving it with a blue tinge. The blue blood then returns in the veins to the right side of the heart which pumps it through the pulmonary arteries to the lungs.

Here, the blood receives oxygen again, restoring its red colour. The re-oxygenated blood returns to the heart from the lungs ready to be pumped once again though the body.

The heart's normal rate or beat is the frequency at which it pumps. The normal rate is between 60 and 90 beats per minute. The only rest it gets is a short pause between beats.

Heart rate can rise dramatically when you are excited, frightened, injured or during exercise. This is the body's normal response to stress.

Why should you look after your heart?

Many aspects of an unhealthy lifestyle will negatively affect your heart. Heart disease can start developing at a young age and thus it is very important to follow a healthy lifestyle and diet to protect your heart. The benefits of living a healthy life will carry through to many aspects of your health and not just for your heart.

Heart disease can be prevented in many cases, simply with a few changes to your diet or lifestyle, but many heart defects are congenital, i.e. people are born with these defects. In these cases, medication and/or surgery at a young age are often required.

You only have one heart for your whole life and once it is damaged it will stay like that until surgery or transplant has taken place (if necessary).

back to top

William Harvey

In 1628 William Harvey proved that blood was circulated round the body, and that the heart was responsible for this movement.

The Heart and the Circulatory System This site has it all - history of heart biology, clear descriptions of heart and circulatory system function, suggested activities and great diagrams.

The Heart: An Online Exploration -This site pumps you through the development, structure, and associated mechanisms of the heart. Good diagrams, plus movies. Even includes a history of heart research.

The Heart Preview Gallery This gallery is amazing... there are activities like listening to a beating heart, viewing heart x-rays, checking out a echocardiogram procedure, learn how to take your pulse in different ways, take a journey down an artery, and many more!

Cardiovascular Pathology Index An excellent site featuring anatomy pictures of heart problems - also some microscopic heart sections to see.

Veggie Patch

Fibre is a very important part of our diet – it is sometimes called roughage and comes from plants. Fibre moves food along our gut (intestines) and also plays an important role in keeping the blood flowing through arteries by clearing obstructions such as cholesterol.

You should aim to eat 5 portions of fruit and vegetables per day. Vegetables fresh from the garden are delicious and nutritious. Ask your parents for a small section and start a veggie patch of your own.

Avocados

Rich in vitamin E - lower the risk of stroke, heart disease and atherosclerosis (thickening of the arteries)
Good source of potassium – helps control blood pressure and heart beat
High in monounsaturated fats – lower blood cholesterol levels
Avo’s make a great sandwich filler, mash them and spread straight onto whole-wheat bread (no need for butter or margarine).

Bananas (not a vegetable – but often grown in gardens)

High in potassium – helps control blood pressure
Bananas have a high level of natural sugar, which is quickly absorbed into the blood stream – this make them ideal as a “sports snack”. The potassium also helps ease cramps.

Beetroot

Rich in potassium – regulates heartbeat and blood pressure
Don’t be alarmed if you go to the toilet and things look a little pink, this is from the red pigment called betacyanin.

Beans

High in fibre – to get things moving, and lower cholesterol levels
Good source of protein – important for vegetarians

Cabbage (and Brussels sprouts)

May help prevent cancer
Help relieve stomach ulcers

Carrots

Packed full of vitamin A – carrots do actually help you see better in the dark
Contain fibre
Carrots are better eaten raw, and with the skin on.

Celery

Helps relieve joint pain
Good source of potassium
May help lower cholesterol and blood pressure
A great addition to salads and soups, and a popular snack.

Cucumber & Lettuce

Unfortunately they have little nutritional value but 90% of these vegetables is water, which makes them refreshing and low in kilojoules

Garlic & Onions

Good for the Heart – as daily doses may help lower blood pressure and cholesterol
Prevent blood clots
Have antibacterial properties and are sometimes called miracle foods

Peas

Rich source of vitamins B and C
Contain protein, fibre, folate and phosphorus

Peppers (Red, green, yellow)

Excellent source of vitamin C (twice as much as a oranges)
– necessary for healthy skin, ligaments and bones

Potatoes

Useful source of Vitamin C – the fresher the better and best cooked with the skins on
Contain starch and fibre
Good source of potassium
NB: green or sprouting potatoes can contain poisons.

Pumpkin and Butternut

Good source of beta carotene – which helps prevent cancer
Useful source of Vitamin E
The seeds are full of iron, potassium, phospherous, magnesium and zinc

Spinach

Excellent source of carotene and a good source of vitamin C, which may help prevent cancer
Good source of potassium
Useful source of folate – important for blood formation

Tomatoes

Good source of carotenoids – helps prevent cancer
High in potassium
Useful source of vitamins C and E

Information courtesy of “Foods that harm, foods that heal”; Readers Digest

Back to top

Get Your School To Adopt A Charity

A number of schools have started to adopt charities at a class room level. Not only does this encourage the children to give to those less fortunate – but it builds a sense of social responsibility and exposes them to a host of character building experiences. Schools can either participate by Volunteering of their time e.g. at fundraising events or street collections Hosting fundraising drives e.g. events or through Red Heart coin collections Undertaking to spread the message of healthy living within their own school community

Back to top

Cool Links

Send a card to a friend from
Grab-a-Card Heart-to-Heart
www.grabacard.com/home/just4fun/ecards/

In Love
www.grabacard.com/home/just4fun/ecards/

Speeding my heart -animated (FLASH Plug-In required)
www.grabacard.com/home/just4fun/ecards/

Play an online game on Grab-a-Card
http://www.grabacard.com/home/games/welcome.html

Our Platinum Sponsor: Willowton Group

Our Gold Sponsors: