Dear Friends,
Today’s blog is rather special in a number of ways. For one, it’s the Valentine edition. And whether you believe, practise or just ignore the Valentine’s day celebration, it has become a tradition of modern day life, and of course the forces of commerce have pushed up the ante. I was amazed by the CNN story which showed the shipment of tons of roses from Kenya, to Frankfurt via Lufthansa Airlines, and then trucked around Europe every year during this period! Another reason, quite related to the first, is the subject of the blog – the heart, in all its ramifications; the physiological, emotional, and spiritual. This blog is also special because it is written by a guest – Professor Chikodi N. Anigbogu of Lagos University Teaching Hospital. Finally,I am dedicating this blog to the memory of Goldie, Nigeria’s rising music icon, who passed away suddenly on Valentine’s day!
You will find this blog factual, professorial, scientific, light hearted and hilarious. It was delivered as a talk during the last Old Boys’ meeting of my great alma mater, Government Secondary School, Owerri, Nigeria. Some of the terms may sound unfamiliar and written within our school context, but I have refused the temptation to edit it. One last thing though, is that I am forced to split it into two blogs. While this first part serves as introduction, I suggest you don’t miss part two which offers 10 tips for a better heart and lists some heart conditions. Enjoy!
“Everyone has a heart, sweetheart, soft heart, hard heart, stone heart, light heart, heavy heart, broken heart, mended heart, faint heart, kind heart, contrite heart, loving heart, failing heart, failed heart etc. Not all the above belong to the realm of physiology- which is the science of the normal function of the body. Some of these terms are pathologic, esoteric, mundane, spiritual, contextual, and colloquial. That shows how important the heart and the context of the heart are.Thus there can be no existence without a heart.
Your heart is older than you, so treat it with respect. This is so because the embryonic heart or myocyte starts to beat somewhere between 3 to 6 weeks after conception, i.e. about 8 months before your birthday. It has to continue this beat normally between 60 to 100 times a minute, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 12 months of the year and all the years of life, until the permanent change of address and the highest or last title, RIP.
The heart is located in the chest cavity, usually towards the left breast, with the base up and the apex down – much like our beloved “UDARA” fruit.
Because the work of the heart is to pump blood (the life fluid) round the whole body, it is connected to blood vessels (pipes) that bring in blood and take out blood. It is also supplied by blood vessels for its own needs (coronary vessels). It is made up of mainly muscle (cardiac muscle).It contains valves or gates that ensure that blood flows in one direction and not back and forth, this contributes to efficiency and conserves energy.
The rate and force of beating of the heart changes from time to time and is regulated to meet the body’s needs. Average HR =72 beats/min. Average Pressure =120/80mmHg. Things can go wrong with the heart-nkpuru obi, the blood vessels – akwara, or with the blood vessels that supply the heart.Some people have a “good heart”, some have hereditary/genetically “weaker” hearts, some have congenital abnormal (birth defect heart) hearts.
However our hearts and blood vessels should be well maintained to get the best services. Diet, exercise, and lifestyle combinations are easily the most useful tools to a healthy heart.The pumping action of the heart and the elastic properties of the blood vessels help to maintain blood pressure.....”
Chikodi N. Anigbogu PhD, FIUPS.
Last Line: Friends, Prof. Anigbogu said the heart beats “...24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 12 months of the year and all the years of life, until the permanent change of address and the highest or last title, RIP”. There is a permanent change of address and a last earthly title: the last is sure, the former is a choice. And with a committed relationship with God, you are bound to make a good choice!
To find out more about God and the Lord Jesus Christ, visit any bible believing church near you, or: CHAPEL OF DESTINY RESTORATION CHURCH, 2 Akinlabi Lane, off Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way, by Round About Bus Stop, Ikeja. Lagos
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