Protect Your Heart Like It Was Your Home
Your heart needs care, just like a house needs maintenance
Your heart needs care, just like a house needs maintenance
When learning about heart health, think of your heart as a house. This simple comparison can help you understand how the heart works and why regular care matters. Just like a home needs maintenance, our hearts need care to prevent problems.
“Your heart is the foundation of your overall health,” says Todd Hitchcock, MD, a cardiologist at Scripps Clinic Carmel Valley. “Taking care of your heart now can help prevent serious heart issues later. It also keeps your body working well, just like a strong foundation protects your home.”
The heart is a complex muscle. It pumps oxygen-rich blood throughout the body. Just as a house needs a solid foundation, your heart must stay strong to keep your body running at its best.
Picture your heart as a two-story house with four rooms. The atria (upper floor) and ventricles (lower floor) move blood with the help of four heart valves – like doors – that keep it flowing in the right direction.
It’s important to keep these “doors” and “rooms” in good shape. Valve issues or blocked vessels can disrupt blood flow, just like broken doors or clogged pipes can affect how a house works.
Who do you call when you need repairs?
Heart issues often stem from the heart’s “plumbing,” “electrical” or “structural” systems – just like problems in a house.
If your home has a burst pipe, faulty wiring or a damaged wall, you call a specialist to address the issue. The same principle applies to your heart. When something is wrong, you need the right expert to help you.
As Dr. Hitchcock explains, “Heart care can feel overwhelming with all the different specialists and medical terms. However, once you understand the basics and who does what, it becomes easier to take charge of your health.”
Cardiologists are like general contractors
Usually, the first doctor you see for a heart issue is a cardiologist. This is like calling a general contractor for home repairs.
Cardiologists diagnose and treat heart disease. They perform tests like echocardiograms, stress tests and cardiac catheterizations. They manage risk factors, prescribe medications and help with lifestyle changes.
Some specialize in conditions like heart failure or arrhythmia. They may also implant devices like pacemakers to help the heart beat properly.
Your cardiologist may refer you to a specialist based on what part of your heart needs help. This is similar to how a contractor might call in a plumber, electrician or carpenter for certain home repairs.
You might see one of these specialists for your heart care needs:
- Interventional cardiologists for “plumbing” issues like blocked arteries
- Electrophysiologists for “electrical” issues like abnormal rhythms
- Cardiovascular surgeons for “structural” repairs like valve surgery
Heart attacks happen in the plumbing
Like clogged pipes, blocked heart arteries – often due to coronary artery disease – can lead to heart attacks, also known as a myocardial infarction. This happens when plaque buildup, primarily from cholesterol deposits, narrows the coronary arteries, reducing blood flow. Symptoms include chest pain and shortness of breath.
Interventional cardiologists are the “plumbers” who fix these problems using minimally invasive techniques. They insert a catheter (thin tube) into a blood vessel – usually in the leg, wrist or neck – and guide it to the heart. This allows them to:
- Detect blockages
- Measure pressure and oxygen levels
- Perform angioplasty and place stents
- Remove plaque
- Replace valves or close heart detects like septal defects and PFOS
Rebuilding the walls
Just like repairing a wall, damaged heart structures may need surgery. Cardiovascular surgeons are the heart’s “master carpenters.”
Also called cardiac or heart surgeons, they perform open-heart and minimally invasive surgeries. The type of surgery depends on the patient’s condition and anatomy.
They fix or replace valves, close holes in the heart and perform coronary artery bypass grafts (CABG). This helps restore blood flow by bypassing blocked arteries.
You can schedule a visit, but they are also available for emergencies.
Arrhythmias are electrical problems
Just like a house needs a good electrical system, your heart needs its own electrical system to work well.
The sinoatrial node is the heart’s natural pacemaker. It begins each heartbeat. The atrioventricular node holds the signal for a moment. This delay lets the upper chambers contract before the lower ones. This helps blood flow smoothly.
If the electrical system misfires, the heart can beat too fast, too slow or irregularly. This is known as arrhythmia. It can start in different parts of the heart.
A serious electrical failure can lead to sudden cardiac arrest. This is when the heart stops completely. Unlike a heart attack, which is caused by a blockage, sudden cardiac arrest is an electrical problem. It can happen even if a person has no heart disease.
Electrophysiologists are the heart’s “electricians.” They can:
- Diagnose electrical problems
- Implant devices like pacemakers and ICDs (defibrillators)
- Perform cardiac ablations to destroy areas that trigger abnormal signals
Protect your heart like it was your house (infographic)
Protect your heart like it was your house (infographic)
When you think about heart care, remember how special your home is. Don’t wait for a leak to become a flood.
“Schedule a yearly checkup with your primary care doctor. And if you have a family history of heart disease, or notice symptoms like chest pain or fatigue, talk to a cardiologist,” Dr. Hitchcock says.
Use this visual guide to see how your heart works just like a house and how different specialists help keep it in good repair:
