Heart is the main organ of our circulatory system. It is a muscular organ which pumps blood throughout the body. The heart is about the size of a closed fist, and is located in the middle compartment of the chest, between the lungs and partially to the left of the centre. It rests on diaphragm, behind the breastbone. The heart is protected by the ribcage. The average weight of an adult’s heart is 250-350 grams.

The heart is made up of several layers of a tough muscular wall called myocardium, and a thin layer of tissue called pericardium covers the outside of the heart. There is another layer which lines the inside wall of the heart called endocardium. The heart is divided into two chambers, the upper chamber is called atrium or auricle, and the lower chamber is called ventricle, each are furthermore divided into other two chambers, left atrium and right atrium and left ventricle and right ventricle, so, there are total four chambers of the heart. The two atria are the receiving chambers for entering the blood to the heart whereas the ventricles pump out the blood from the heart. There are valves in the door which acts like doors between the heart chambers. They open and close to allow the blood to flow through the body.

The heart’s function is directed by the brain and the nervous system. Though the main function of the heart is to pass blood throughout the body, but it also controls the rhythm and the speed of heart rate and maintains the blood pressure of the body. The heart works with other systems of our body to control other body functions, like the nervous system and the endocrine system.

There are different types of heart conditions and problems which are altogether known as heart disease. Cardiovascular diseases include disease of the heart which is the leading cause of death worldwide. The following can be the heart conditions:

When the heart stops beating, the blood will not reach out to the brain and other organs of the body and the person may die within minutes. This is called cardiac arrest. When a person experiences cardiac arrest, he will be unable to speak and breath, and will have no heartbeat.

A plaque buildup leading to narrowing of the coronary arteries is called coronary artery disease.

Atrial fibrillation is irregular electrical impulses in the atrium. Heartbeat that is too fast or too slow, or beats in an irregular rhythm is arrythmia. Cardiomyopathy is the unusual thickening, enlargement or stiffening of the heart muscle. Pericarditis is an inflammation in the heart’s pericardium lining.

To keep the heart healthy, one should maintain a healthy lifestyle. Best heart doctors in India also suggest drug treatment and surgery are the other options for heart treatment and these can be done in best heart hospital in India. There are several tests to diagnose heart disease: chest X-ray, tests, electrocardiogram, holter monitoring, echocardiogram, exercise tests, cardiac CT scan, cardiac MRI scan. When the heart is damaged severely and the medicine is not effective, a heart transplant may be needed. Heart transplant involves replacing a damaged heart with a healthy donor heart.

Best Heart Hospitals in India

Some of the top heart hospitals in India which provide best treatments and care for a cardiac patient can be: Fortis Escorts Heart Institute, New Delhi; Asian Heart Institute, Mumbai; Apollo Hospitals, Chennai.

Best Heart Surgeons in India

Some of the best cardiologists in India are: Dr. Z. S. Meharwal, Dr. Naresh Trehan, Dr. Ramakant Panda.