A Healthy Heart 2022 Bridge Advanced.pdf

Name: __________________________ Bridge Advanced Sept 2022 A Healthy Heart The heart is one of our vital organs. Along with the liver, kidneys, lungs and brain, we need the heart to keep us alive. If your heart doesn’t function properly, your life i...

Name: __________________________ Bridge Advanced Sept 2022 A Healthy Heart The heart is one of our vital organs. Along with the liver, kidneys, lungs and brain, we need the heart to keep us alive. If your heart doesn’t function properly, your life is in danger. It is important to keep your heart healthy and learn how to prevent heart disease. Heart Disease There are many different heart problems or diseases. One problem is blocked blood vessels, which is a disease called atherosclerosis (ath-er-row-sclo-row-sis). Blood vessels are tubes connected to the heart that carry blood around the body. The blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart are called arteries. The ones that carry blood back to the heart are called veins. Our body needs a steady supply of blood. Blood delivers oxygen to all the body's cells. To stay alive, a person needs healthy, living cells. Without oxygen, these cells will die. If oxygen-rich blood doesn't circulate because of blocked arteries, a person could die. Blocked blood vessels happen because people get older, or if people smoke, or eat fatty foods such as potato chips or deep fried foods. What happens is that a waxy substance called plaque (plak) builds up in the arteries. Over time, plaque hardens and narrows the arteries, or makes the insides smaller. This slows the flow of oxygen-rich blood to your organs and other parts of your body. Another problem is clots. If any plaque pieces break away, they can combine to form a clot, or a solid piece. If a clot plugs, or closes, an artery, the cells in that part of the body cannot work properly without their supply of oxygen. If the clot happens in the brain, a person could have a stroke, where part of the brain begins to die. When brain cells die during a stroke, a person can lose memory or muscle control, or be permanently paralyzed. If the clot is in the heart arteries, a person can have a heart attack. The heart stops pumping blood properly because the heart muscles cannot work without oxygen. If blood flow isn’t restored quickly, the heart muscle begins to die. Some symptoms of heart attacks and strokes are chest pain, shortness of breath, or upper body discomfort. Strokes and heart attacks can be fatal, or cause death. If you think you or someone else is having a heart attack or stroke, call 911 for emergency medical care. Outcomes: 1) Preview and predict 2) Access background knowledge 3) Answer questions based on reading Keep Your Heart Happy Heart disease is the second leading cause of death in Canada. It is important to keep your heart in good shape. Here are some things that you can do to help keep your heart happy and prevent heart problems:  Your heart is a muscle. If you want it to be strong, you need to exercise it. Be active in a way that gets you breathing, like running, playing soccer, or playing basketball. It is good to be active every day for at least 30 minutes. Sports are not the only way to be active. You can also clean your house, do yard work, play outside with children, or take the stairs instead of the elevator.  Eat healthy foods and avoid foods that have a lot of unhealthy fats.  Try to eat five servings of fruits and vegetables each day.  Avoid sugary foods or drinks, like Pepsi and Coke, and fruit drinks.  Don't smoke. Tobacco can damage the heart and blood vessels.  Reduce stress.  Maintain a healthy body weight. Outcomes: 1) Preview and predict 2) Access background knowledge 3) Answer questions based on reading