Heart disease is a condition when the heart is disturbed. The form of the disorder itself can vary. There are disorders of the heart's blood vessels, heart rhythm, heart valves, or congenital disorders.
The heart is a muscle that is divided into four chambers. Two chambers are located at the top, namely the right and left atrium. While the two more chambers are located at the bottom, namely the right and left ventricles. Between the right and left spaces are separated by a muscular wall (septum) which functions to prevent the mixing of oxygen-rich blood with oxygen-poor blood.
The main function of the heart is to circulate oxygen-rich blood to all parts of the body. After all the organs of the body use the oxygen in the blood, the oxygen-poor blood returns to the heart (right atrium), to be forwarded to the right ventricle through the tricuspid valve. After blood fills the right ventricle, the tricuspid valve closes to prevent blood from flowing back into the right atrium. Then, when the right ventricle contracts, oxygen-poor blood will leave the heart through the pulmonary valve and pulmonary artery, and then be carried to the lungs to be filled with oxygen.
The oxygen-enriched blood is then carried to the left atrium via the pulmonary vein. When the left atrium contracts, blood will be forwarded to the left ventricle through the mitral valve. Once the left ventricle fills with blood, the mitral valve closes to prevent blood from flowing back into the left atrium. Then, the left ventricle will contract, and blood will flow throughout the body through the aortic valve. The cycle of blood circulation will continue to repeat.
It should be noted that people with heart disease are a group of people who are vulnerable to COVID-19 with severe symptoms. If you have heart disease and are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, you should see a doctor. Click the link below so you can be directed to the nearest health facility:
- Rapid Test Antibodies
- Antigen Swab (Rapid Test Antigen)
- PCR
Types of Heart Disease
The term heart disease includes a variety of disorders of the heart, including:
- Coronary artery disease (coronary heart disease) - narrowing of the arteries of the heart.
- Arrhythmia - disturbances in heart rhythm.
- Congenital heart disease - heart defects from birth.
- Cardiomyopathy - disorders of the heart muscle.
- Heart infection – infection of the heart due to bacteria, viruses, or parasites.
- heart valve disease – Disorders of one or all four heart valves.