‘Syncope’ or faints is a common problem and occurs in up to 40% of the general population at least once during a lifetime. It may be caused by a benign condition, but it may also be a sign of a serious, life-threatening illness. Syncope refers to momentary loss of consciousness and resultant fall that occurs from a transient decrease in blood supply to the brain. The heart is responsible for maintaining blood supply to all organs of the body including the brain. Intermittent slowing of the heart or a precipitous fall in blood pressure while standing can transiently decrease the blood supply to the brain resulting in loss of consciousness.
Being fit defines every aspect of your health not only physical health but your emotional and mental well being too. In fact, every one of these is interconnected. Smart eating or healthy eating and being active are the fundamentals to all the three types of well being.
Since January this year, the entire world has been thrown off-track by a virus!. Over the last few months as we are learning more and more about the COVID-19 virus we are also finding ways to get on with life and cope with the new normal. In the article, we address a few facts about COVID 19 and the heart and also suggest ways to take care of your heart during this pandemic. In > 80% of the patients, COVID-19 manifests as a mild viral illness. A small portion, especially the elderly develop a more serious disease. Pre-existing cardiac ailments are also known to adversely affect outcomes.
The human heart beats between 60 – 100 times every minute and around 2.5 billion times in an average lifetime!. This feat is accomplished by a group of specialised cells in the heart that compose the ‘Cardiac conduction system’. The conduction system generates an ‘electrical impulse’ which conducts via a specialised network of cells and reaches the cardiac muscle thereby triggering a muscle contraction.