What are
heart muscles?
The heart muscle, too known
as cardiac muscle or myocardium, may be a specialized type of muscle tissue
found as it were within the heart. It is dependable for the compression and
unwinding of the heart, empowering it to pump blood all through the body. The
most work of the heart muscle is to contract ridmically and proficiently pump
oxygen-rich blood to all parts of the body. This prepares guarantees that
crucial supplements and oxygen are conveyed to the cells, tissues, and organs,
whereas squander items like carbon dioxide are carried away for elimination.
The heart muscle
accomplishes its function through a coordinated series of contractions and
relaxations, regulated by electrical impulses generated within the heart
itself. These contractions create the pumping action that propels blood through
the chambers of the heart and into the blood vessels, allowing circulation to
occur.
The heart muscle fulfills
its work through a facilitated arrangement of withdrawals and relaxations,
directed by electrical motivations created inside the heart itself. These
withdrawals make the pumping activity that impels blood through the chambers of
the heart and into the blood vessels, permitting circulation to happen.
Heart
disease
Heart diseases include:
1. Blood
vessel disease
2. Irregular
heartbeats
3. Congenital
heart defects
4. Disease
of the heart muscle
5. Heart
valve disease
Heart attack
A heart attack normally
results from a blockage in the coronary arteries. Over time, these
arteries can narrow due to the buildup of substances like cholesterol.
During a heart attack, one
of these plaques can burst, leading to the formation of a blood clot. Larger
clots can entirely block blood flow through the coronary artery. A heart
attack is also called a myocardial infarction.
What happens
after a heart attack?
When a heart attack
happened, the heart muscle that has lost blood supply begins to bear injury.
The amount of damage to the heart muscle depends on the size of the area
supplied by the blocked artery and the time between damage and treatment.
Heart muscle broken by a
heart attack heals by forming scar tissue. It usually takes several weeks for
your heart muscle to heal. The span of time depends on the extent of your
injury and your rate of healing.
The heart is a tough organ. Even
though part of it may have been brutally injured, the rest of the heart keeps
working. But, because of the damage, your heart may be weakened, and unable to
pump as much blood as normal.
How to
repair damaged heart muscles naturally
Vigorous exercise, when done
suitably and with the guidance of a healthcare professional, can improve the
health of damaged heart muscle in some cases. Exercise can strengthen the heart
muscle, improve blood flow, lower blood pressure, reduce cholesterol levels,
and increase overall cardiovascular fitness.
But, it's essential to
approach exercise carefully if you have a damaged heart muscle, such as after a
heart attack or due to a heart condition. Before starting any exercise program,
it's critical to consult with your healthcare provider to determine the
appropriate level of exercise and any precautions you should take.
Heart
regeneration
The heart is unable to
regenerate heart muscle after a heart attack and lost cardiac muscle is
replaced by scar tissue. Scar tissue does not contribute to cardiac contractile
force and the remaining viable cardiac muscle is thus subject to a greater
hemodynamic burden.
The human heart has limited
regenerative capabilities compared to some other organs. While the heart has
some capacity to repair itself, it is relatively limited in its ability to
regenerate damaged tissue.
The heart is mainly composed
of cardiomyocytes, which are the dedicated muscle cells responsible for the
heart's contraction. In the case of a heart attack or other forms of cardiac
injury, cardiomyocytes may die due to lack of oxygen and nutrients. Unlike
certain tissues in the body, such as the liver or skin, the heart does not have
a robust ability to regenerate new cardiomyocytes to replace the damaged heart
muscle.But; recent research has recommended that there may be some degree of
cardiac regeneration in certain conditions. Studies have recognized a small
population of cardiac progenitor cells within the heart that have the potential
to differentiate into cardiomyocytes and contribute to limited regeneration.
Moreover, there is ongoing research exploring the use of stem cells, both from
within the heart and from other sources, as a potential therapy to enhance
cardiac regeneration.While the regenerative capacity of the human heart is
limited. This regeneration rate is very low approximately 1% per year.
Zebrafish as
a role model
Unlike humans, some species
like zebrafish can restore their hearts. Inside 90 days after damage, they
fully restore their cardiac function. The surviving heart muscle cells are able
to divide and produce more cells. This unique feature provides zebrafish hearts
with a source of new tissue to replace the lost heart muscle cells. Previous
studies successfully identified factors that could stimulate heart muscle cells
to divide. Nevertheless, what happens to the newly formed heart muscle cells
afterwards had not been studied before. Phong Nguyen, first author of the
study, explains: “It is unclear how these cells stop dividing and mature enough
so that can they contribute to normal heart function. We were puzzled by the
fact that in zebrafish hearts, the newly formed tissue naturally complete and
integrated into the existing heart tissue without any problems.