The Heart: A Table of Contents

• The developmental process of the heart has many unique phases.

• Learn how to have a healthy heart.
  • Learn how exercise helps your heart.
    • Consider the different kinds of exercise.
    • If you're just getting started, consult a beginner's guide to exercise.
    • Take some tips for making exercise part of your daily routine.
  • Learn how a healthy eating plan helps your heart.
  • The Food Pyramid is a popular healthy eating plan.
  • Take some hints for healthy eating.
  • Learn how a drug-free lifestyle helps your heart.
  • Learn about heart disease.
  • The American Heart Association's statistics are staggering.
  • Blood pressure provides a picture of the heart's health.
  • Your heart fights back during a heart attack.
  • You can be a heart saver.
  • Diabetes can lead to heart disease.
  • Heart disease effects women and men differently.
  • To treat heart disease, surgery is sometimes necessary.
  • Sometimes, open heart surgery is necessary for the patient's survival.
    • Watch a video of heart bypass surgery.
  • Technology has created the artificial heart.
  • Meet Doctor Joel Posner and learn about heart doctors.
    • Watch the introduction to "The Beat," a series of videos that address healthy heart issues.
    • Watch the episode of "The Beat" that addresses diet.
    • Watch the episode of "The Beat" that addresses exercise.
    • Watch the episode of "The Beat" that addresses smoking.
    • Watch the conclusion of "The Beat."

• Learn about the blood vessels that wind throughout your body.
  • Arteries carry oxygen-rich blood away from the heart.
  • Capillaries connect arteries to veins.
  • Veins carry waste products for removal.

• The pulmonary system allows the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide.
  • The circulatory system carries blood throughout the body.
  • The coronary system moves blood through the heart.
  • Systemic circulation delivers blood to all parts of the body.

• Learn about how you and your doctor monitor your heart.
  • Vital statistics, like pulse and blood pressure, allow us to "see" the heart.
    • Look at a picture of blood pressure being measured.
    • Look at a picture of a patient having blood pressure measured.
    • See how to take your pulse.
    • See five ways to take your pulse.
  • Look at a comparison of two heart x-ray images.
  • Echocardiography uses sound to "see" the heart.
    • Watch a video of echocardiograms.
    • Look at a picture of an echocardiography machine.
  • Electrocardiography uses electrical impulses to monitor the heart.
  • Listen to the heartbeats.

• Learn about the fascinating fluid of life.
  • The red blood cells supply oxygen.
  • The white blood cells attack foreign bodies.
  • Don't underestimate the importance of plasma.
  • Blood platelets aid clotting.
  • What's your blood type?
  • What's your rh factor?

• Learn about the history of the heart.
  • Milestones in cardiology reveal the rapid development of heart treatment and technology.
  • Consider the role of the heart in popular culture.
  • Write a poem about the heart.

• To continue learning about the heart, try some enrichment activities.
• A glossary of terms used in the exhibit is available.
• Recommended resource materials are listed.