>> IT'S ONE OF THE MOST AMAZING MACHINES IN THE WORLD AND IT'S RIGHT INSIDE YOUR BODY.

LEARN MORE ABOUT YOUR HEART.

CALL IN WITH YOUR QUESTIONS.

"DIALOGUE FOR KIDS" IS NEXT.

>> HI.

I'M JOAN CARTAN-HANSEN.

THANKS FOR JOINING US HERE ON IDAHO PUBLIC TELEVISION OR ON THE WORLDWIDE WEB.

YOUR HEART HAS A VERY BIG JOB.

IT KEEPS YOU ACTIVE AND ALIVE.

>> TUCKED SAFELY WITHIN YOUR CHEST IS YOUR HEART.

IT'S ACTUALLY A MUSCLE ABOUT THE SIZE OF YOUR FIST AND WITH EVERY SQUEEZE, YOUR HEART FILLS WITH BLOOD AND THEN EMPTIES OUT.

THAT POUNDING YOU FEEL IS CALLED THE HEARTBEAT.

PUT YOUR HAND ON THE SIDE OF YOUR NECK OR RIGHT BENEATH YOUR WRIST AND YOU CAN FEEL IT BEATING.

IT BEATS EVERY MINUTE EVERY DAY AND NIGHT NO MATTER WHAT YOU ARE DOING.

THE HEART SENDS BLOOD THROUGHOUT YOUR ENTIRE BODY.

THAT'S NO SMALL TASK, PUMPING BLOOD TO AND FROM EVERY VEIN AND BLOOD VESSEL.

DO YOU KNOW IF YOUR BLOOD VESSELS WERE STRETCHED FROM END TO END THEY WOULD CIRCLE THE GLOBE NEARLY THREE TIMES?

A HEART BEATS ABOUT 70 TIMES A MINUTE IN AN ADULT.

IN AN 88-YEAR-OLD IT'S ABOUT 90 PER MINUTE.

AND IN A NEWBORN BABY IT'S ABOUT 140 BEATS PER MINUTE.

WHEN YOU RUN HARD WITH YOUR FRIENDS AT THE PLAYGROUND YOUR HEART PUMPS FASTER AND MORE BLOOD TO FEED OXYGEN AND NUTRIENTS TO YOUR MUSCLES.

WHEN YOU ARE SITTING STILL AND READING IT DOESN'T PUMP AS HARD.

SO HOW DOES IT KNOW WHEN YOU ARE CHANGING GEARS?

WELL, YOUR HEART IS KIND OF LIKE A SMALL EFFICIENT POWER PLANT.

IT'S CONSTANTLY AWARE OF WHAT THE REST OF YOUR BODY IS DOING AND WHAT ENERGY YOU NEED TO KICK INTO ACTION.

YOUR HEART DOES THAT BY GENERAL RAKE AN ELECTRICAL IMPULSE.

IT SENDS SIGNALS ALL OVER YOUR BODY, FREFERG YOUR FINGERS TO YOUR TOES GETS A ZAP OF ENERGY NEEDED TO GET GOING.

KEEP YOUR HEART HEALTHY IS IMPORTANT TO STAYING HEALTHY.

SOMETIMES PARTS OF THE HEART CAN GET CLOGGED.

THAT'S A SIGN OF A VERY SERIOUS ILLNESS.

IT'S CALLED CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE AND IT'S THE NUMBER ONE CAUSE OF DEATH IN THIS ONE.

HOW DO YOU KEEP THAT FROM HAPPENING?

YOU CAN START BY EATING HEALTHY FOODS.

DOCTORS ENCOURAGE CHILDREN TO START GOOD EATING HABITS WHEN THEY ARE YOUNG AND KEEP GOOD HABITS AS THEY GET OLDER.

ANOTHER GOOD WAY TO KEEP YOUR HEART BEATING STRONG IS TO GET PLENTY OF EXERCISE.

RUNNING AROUND WITH FRIENDS, JUMPING ROPE, ANYTHING THAT KEEPS YOU MOVING.

THOSE ARE THE BEST WAYS TO MAKE SURE YOUR HEART MUSCLES KEEP PUMPING AND YOU STAY HEART HEALTHY YOUR WHOLE LIFE.

>> JOINING US NOW TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR HEART ARE CARDIOLOGISTS DR.

ERIC CARTER AND DR.

ELOSIA WALKER.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> IT'S A PLEASURE.

>> AND, OF COURSE, WE ARE TAKING YOUR QUESTIONS.

CALL US HERE TOLL FREE AT 1-800-973-9800 OR EMAIL US AT DIALOGUE4KIDS AT IDAHOPTV.ORG.

AND REMEMBER, WHEN YOU SEND IN A QUESTION, YOU AND YOUR CLASS WILL HAVE A CHANCE TO WIN A SET OF SCIENCE BOOKS.

OUR FIRST QUESTION, THE FOURTH GRADE CLASS IN RAFAEL, I'D HOA.

HOW DO DOCTORS KNOW BEFORE WR ON THE BODY TO OPERATE?

HOW DO YOU FIND THE HEART?

>> WELL, ANY SURGERY THAT A DOCTOR IS GOING TO DO ON A HEART HE HAS DONE MANY, MANY TIMES BEFORE.

AND SO THEY HAVE IT ALL PLANNED OUT LONG BEFORE THEY EVEN MEET THE PATIENT WHERE THEY WILL GO.

>> THEY KNOW.

>> YEAH.

AND MAX WANTS TO KNOW HOW MANY TIMES DOES THE HEARTBEAT IN A MINUTE.

>> WELL, THAT REALLY DEPENDS ON YOUR AGE.

A BABY'S HEART BEATS 140 TIMES A MINUTE, WHEREAS AN ADULT HEART BEATS MORE AT ABOUT 70 TO 80 TIMES A MINUTE.

SO DEPENDING UPON YOUR AGE, THAT ACTUALLY IS MUCH HIGHER A NUMBER.

BUT ON AVERAGE WHAT DID WE SAY?

30 MILLION TIMES IN A YEAR.

>> WHY THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A BABY'S HEART?

WHY DOES A BABY'S HEARTBEAT FAST THEARN AN ADULT?

>> THE MAIN REASON IS THAT THE BABY DOES NOT HAVE AS MANY DIFFERENT CAPABILITIES TO MAINTAIN THEIR HUMAN DYNAMIC STABILITY.

WHAT THAT MEANS IS WAIT YOU MAINTAIN YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE, THE AMOUNT OF OUTBUT THE IN YOUR BODY IS A FIXED NUMBER SO THE HEART RATE HAYES ALLOWS YOU TO INCREASE AND MEET THE DEMAND OF YOUR BODY.

>> LET'S GO TO OUR FIRST CALLER, GUSTAVO IN ST.

ANTHONY.

ARE YOU THERE?

GO AHEAD.

GUSTAVO?

ARE YOU THERE?

I CAN HEAR YOU.

ARE YOU THERE IN ST.

ANTHONY?

OK.

I THINK THE QUESTION GUSTAVO WAS GOING TO DOES SC WHAT DOES SMOKING DO TO YOUR HEART.

SO I WILL ASK YOUR QUESTION.

>> THAT IS A VERY IMPORTANT QUESTION TO ANSWER AND THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

SMOKING IS ONE OF THE MOST DANGEROUS THINGS YOU CAN DO FOR YOUR HEART AND YOUR LUNGS AND IT'S THE MOST SIGNIFICANT RISK FACTOR TO GET HEART ATTACKS WHEN YOU GET OLDER AND THERE'S ONE MESSAGE YOU WILL TAKE HOME FROM THIS SHOW IT'S THAT DON'T EVER START.

IT'S EASIER THAN TO QUIT.

>> ALEX.

LET'S TRY ALEX.

ARE YOU THERE?

>> YES.

>> GO AHEAD, ALEX.

WHAT'S YOUR QUESTION?

>> DOES SMOKING MAKE YOUR BAD?

>> HOW DOES SMOKING MAKE YOUR HEART BAD?

>> YEAH.

>> OK.

>> THE MAIN THING THAT IT DOES TO YOUR HEART IS CLOG THE ARTERIES UP.

AND HAD THE ARTERIES CLOG UP YOU HAVE A HEART ATTACK AND YOU DAMAGE PART OF YOUR HEART AND SOMETIMES THAT'S PERMANENT.

>> LET'S GO TO THE FOURTH GRADE CLASS.

HOW MANY DIFFERENT TIMES OF TISSUES MAKE UP THE HEART?

>> THERE MUST BE A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT TISSUES THAT I CAN UP THE HEART.

THAT'S NOT A QUESTION I HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT BUT THE HEART IS A MUSCLE AND THERE ARE SPECIAL TYPE OF CARDIAC CELL THAT IS ARE DIFFERENT THAN THE MUSCLE CELLS OF YOUR ARMS OR YOUR LEGS.

AND THERE ARE ALSO OTHER TYPE OF FINE RUSS TISSUES THAT ARE LIKE LITTLE STRANDS THAT HELP KEEP THINGS CONNECTED AND THEN THE VATION TISSUES ARE MADE UP OF SPECIAL TISSUES THAT IS VERY THIN AND FLEXIBLE SO IT CAN ACTUALLY MOVE QUITE EASY DISBLEE HOW MANY VEINS CONNECT, HOW MANY VEINS CONNECT TO THE HEART?

MEGAN WANTS TO KNOW THAT.

>> MEGAN, THERE ARE BASICALLY SIX VEINS, FOUR ARE CALLED THE PULMONARY VEINS AND TWO ARE CALL THE THE INFEENIER AND SUPERIOR VINA CAVE VA.

>> DO OTHER ANIMALS' HEARTS BEAT THE AT SAME RATE?

>> THE OORT HATE O--- HEART RATE IS PROPORTIONAL TO THE SIZE OF THE AN MA'AM SO IF YOU CAN FIND AN ANIMAL THAT'S ABOUT THE SIZE OR THE WEIGHT OF A HUMAN BEING, WHICH OFTEN ARE PIGS OR BIG DOGS, THEN THAT WILL BE ABOUT THE SAME RATE.

>> AERIAL WANTS TO KNOW, WHY IS THE HEART PINK AND RED?

>> BECAUSE IT'S A TISSUE THAT'S A LIVE.

AND WE DON'T THINK ABOUT THE HEART AS HAVING SPECIAL VEINS OR ARTERIES THAT FEED IT BLOOD FLOW BUT ANY TISSUE THAT IS ALIVE HAS A VERY BEAUTIFUL PINK, HEALTHY COLOR.

>> AND SARAH WANTS TO KNOW, WHAT AREA OF THE BODY GETS THE MOST BLOOD PUMPED ITS WAY?

>> THAT ACTUALLY WOULD BE THE HEART.

YES.

THE HEART GETS ABOUT 10% OF THE BLOOD FLOW AT ANY MOMENT.

AND IT INCREASES FUR WORKING HARD OR EXERCISING AND DECREASES DP YOU ARE ASLEEP.

>> OK.

JOHN IN BOISE.

>> I WANT TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS, WHAT OTHER DISEASES ARE HEART ATTACKS.

>> WHAT OTHER DISEASES MAKE HEART ATTACKS?

>> YEAH.

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

THANK YOU.

>> AS WE DISCUSSED A MINUTE AGO HEART ATTACKS ARE NORMAL LEE CAUSED BY CLOGGED ARTERIES WHERE YOU GET BUILD UP IN ARREST ROUNDTREE O-ARTERIES FROM SMOKING.

YOU CAN GET A BLOOD CLOT THAT TRAVELS INTO THE ART.

>> HOW DO YOU KEEP YOUR HEART FROM GETTING CLOGGED UP?

>> EXERCISE.

A HEALTHY AMOUNT OF EL EXERCISE.

EATING RIGHT AND BASICALLY TRYING TO TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF, SLEEPING WELL, REDUCING YOUR STRESS.

>> IS HEART ATTACK DISEASE BASICALLY AN ADULT?

>> MOST COMMONLY, YES.

THERE ARE VERY FEW CONDITIONS IN PEDIATRICS CARDIOLOGY THAT CAUSE HEART ATTACKS.

>> I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS BY EMAIL FROM JENNIFER HILLS IN NAP PA.

WHY ASK YOUR HEART STOP WHEN YOU SNEEZE?

I DIDN'T KNOW IT STOPPED WHEN IT SNEEZED.

>> I DIDN'T KNOW THAT.

>> TECHNICALLY, YOUR HEART DOES NOT STOP.

IF YOUR HEART WERE TO STOP, THEN, THAT'S A HUGE EMERGENCY, AND A SITUATION WHERE WE HAVE TO WORK VERY HARD TO MAKE IT COME BACK AGAIN.

BUT WHAT HAPPENS IS THAT IT PAUSES.

BECAUSE YOU ACTUALLY SLOW DOWN YOUR RATE AND IT PAUSES AND THEN IT JUST SPEEDS UP AGAIN.

>> SO A SNEEZE WILL MAKE YOUR HEART PAUSE.

>> IT WILL PAUSE.

>> THERE YOU GO.

IS THERE A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A MALE AND A FEMALE HEART?

>> THERE ARE.

THEY ARE SUBTLE.

THEY ARE VERY MUCH DEPENDENT ON SIZE.

ONE OF THE QUESTIONS WE LOOKED AT WAS, SPOKE ON THE SHOW RIGHT BEFORE IS THAT YOUR HEART IS ABOUT THE SIZE OF YOUR FIST.

AND SO TYPICALLY A MAN'S HEART ON AVERAGE WILL BE BIG THEARN A WOMAN'S HEART BECAUSE MEN ARE BIGGER THAN WOMEN.

IN TERMS OF ILLNESSES THERE ARE SOME SUBTLE DIFFERENCES IN ILLNESSES AS WELL BUT PRETTY MUCH ANY DISEASE THAT A MAN CAN GET A. WOMAN CAN GET AND VICE VERSA.

>> QUESTIONS.

WHY DOESN'T THE HEART GET TIRED LIKE OTHER MUSCLES IN OUR BODY?

>> THE HEART DOES GET TIRED.

AND DEPENDENT UPON CERTAIN CONDITIONS, SUCH AS YOUR HEART IS RACING IN THE WRONG WAY, IT WILL ACTUALLY GET QUITE TIRED.

BUT IT'S JUST ONE OF THOSE FEW MUSCLES IN YOUR HEART -- IN YOUR HOLE BODY -- EXCUSE ME -- THAT NEVER GET A CHANCE TO REST.

>> LET'S KEEP THAT GOING.

IF YOU WERE TO REMOVE A HEART, WOULD IT KEEP BEATING?

>> NOT FOR VERY LONG.

>> WHAT IS A HEART MURMUR?

>> A HEART MURMUR IS THE SOUND OF BLOOD AS IT MOVES THROUGH THE HEART.

AND THERE ARE GOOD SOUNDS AND THERE ARE BAD SOUNDS.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I DO EVERY DAY AT WORK IS TO DECIDE WHICH MURMURS DO WE NEED TO WORRY ABOUT AND WHICH ARE SCPOK THE NORMAL PART OF GROWING UP.

>> MRS.

LAMB WANTS TO KNOW, COLTON WANTS TO KNOW WHAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF THE HEART?

>> PROBABLY THE MAIN PUMPING CHAMBER WHICH WE CALL THE LEFT 70 TRI-CULL.

IT'S RESPONSIBLE TO PUMP BLOOD OUT TO ALL THE ORGANS IN THE BODY AND THAT'S PROBABLY WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT.

IT'S LIKE A CAR.

YOUR CAR WON'T WORK, MAYBE THE MOTOR'S MOST BUT IF YOU DOESN'T HAVE WHEELS, YOU ARE IN BIG TROUBLE.

>> LET'S GO TO SHELBY IN POST FALLS.

SHELBY.

ARE YOU THERE, SHELBY?

>> YEAH.

HOW DOES CHOLESTEROL AFFECT THE HEART?

>> OK.

>> CHOLESTEROL, IT'S ACTUALLY A COMPLICATED QUESTION BECAUSE THERE'S DIFFERENT TYPES OF CHOLESTEROL.

BUT WHEN WE WORRY ABOUT HEART DISEASE AND CHOLESTEROL, THE CHOLESTEROL CAN GET INSIDE THE WALL OF THE ARTERIES AND JUST LIKE IN THE PIPES AT HOME, IF THAT BUILDUP INSIDE THE GETS TOO MUCH IT SHUTS OFF THE BLOOD SUPPLY GETTING TO THE HEART MUSCLE.

>> LET'S GO TO A.J.

IN MIDDLETON.

A.J.

>> I WAS WONDERING WHAT MAKES YOUR HEARTBEAT.

>> WHAT MAKES IT ACTUALLY GO LIKE THAT?

>> WHAT WHAT MAKES IT ACTUALLY BEAT?

PROBABLY BE THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM OF THE HEART.

IF YOU HAVE EVER SEEN ON TV ALL THESE LITTLE SQUIGGLY LINES WHEN THEY ARE TRYING TO SHOW YOU SOMETHING ABOUT THE HEART, THAT'S THE ELECTRICAL ACTIVITY OF THE HEART AND IT'S SORT OF LIKE A TELEPHONE SYSTEM.

THE UPPER CHAMBER TALKS TO THE LOWER CHAMBER AND THEY ARE ABLE TO COMPLETE THE FULL BEAT.

AND THAT JUST CONTINUES AND CONTINUES UNTIL YOU HAVE BEAT AFTER BEAT AFTER BEAT.

>> A RELATED QUESTION, HALLEY IN TWIN FALLS.

HALEY.

>> WHAT KEEPS YOUR HEART BEATING?

>> WHAT KEEPS THAT GOING?

>> ACTUALLY, THE BACK OF YOUR HEART ON THE TOP RIGHT-HAND SIDE IS WHAT IS CALLED A PACE MAKER AND IT'S A SPECIAL PIECE OF TISSUE EVERY SECOND IT ELECTRICALLY TURNS ON AND IT'S TURNED ON TO DO THAT AND I WILL WILL DO THAT YOUR WHOLE LIFE.

WHEN A PACE MAKE ARE QUITS THAT'S WHEN A DOCTOR THOOS PUT IN AN ARTIFICIAL PACE MAKE DISBLER CHRISTINE IN MOUNTAIN HOME.

GO AHEAD, CHRISTINE A THAT.

>> HOW COME WHEN YOU GET SCARED YOUR HEART BEATS WROR RAPID.

>> BECAUSE THAT'S PART OF YOUR CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM.

THAT'S ANOTHER OR CAN THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT LIKE THE HEART.

BUT WHAT IT DOES IS THAT IT MAKES YOU REALIZE, I MAY NEED TO RUN UP AND JUMP AND GO FROM ONE PLACE TO ANOTHER.

YOU NEED YOUR HEART FLOW OR ACTUALLY BEATS TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.

SO YOUR NERVOUS SYSTEM TRIGGERS THAT RESPONSE AND YOUR HEART BEATS FASTER.

>> I HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS WE WANT TO GET TO HERE.

JONATHAN IN MRS.

RANDALL'S CLASS AT WHITNEY ELEMENTARY WANTS TO KNOW, WHAT COLOR IS BLOOD?

SOME PEOPLE SAY IT'S BLUE AND SOME SAY IT'S RED.

>> IT'S A DARK REDDISH COLOR.

IT CAN BE BRIGHT IN COLOR AS WELL, BRIGHT RED.

IT HAS TO DO WITH THE AMOUNT OF OXYGEN IN THE BLOOD.

OXYGEN HELPS TO CHANGE THAT COLOR OF WHAT IS CALLED HEMOGLOBIN AND THE BLOOD THAT'S MOST OF THE ARTERIES IS USUALLY A BRIGHTER RED COLOR THAN WHAT'S IN OUR VEINS.

IT'S A LITTLE BIT DARKER, ALMOST LIKE A DEEP RED PURPLE COLOR.

>> ANOTHER QUESTION FROM MRS.

RANDLE'S CLASS WHAT IS A STENT?

>> A STENT IS A LITTLE METAL TUBES THAT DOCTORS AND SCIENTISTS HAVE DESIGNED TO PUT INTO ARTERY WHEN IS THEY GET CLOGGED UP SO THAT IT WILL KEEP THE ARTERY OPEN.

IT GOES INSIDE THE ARTERY AND COMPRESSES ALL THE CHOLESTEROL SO YOU HAVE A CHANCE WHERE THE BLOOD CAN GO.

>> LET'S GO TO ALEXIS IN MERCURY RID YEN.

>> I HAVE THREE QUESTIONS.

>> LET'S START WITH THE FIRST ONE.

>> WHY ARE SOME BABIES BORN WITH HOLE IN THEIR HEART?

WHAT CAUSES IT?

AFTER SURGERY HOW DO THEY REPAIR IT?

>> OK.

>> WELL, SOME BABIES ARE BORN WITH HOLES IN THEIR HEARTS.

AND WHAT THAT MEANS IS THE MIDDLE LINING OF THE HEART CALLED THE SEPTUM DID NOT COMPLETELY FORM CORRECTLY.

AND WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENS IS THE HEART IS MADE UP UP OF MANY, WILL CELLS AND WHEN OFF HOLE IN THE HEART IT MEANS THE CELLS DIED IN THAT SPOT.

AND NOT ALL CHILDREN THAT ARE BORN WITH HOLES IN THEIR HEART NEED TO HAVE SURGERY.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, THE MAJORITY OF KIDS CAN ACTUALLY SEAL THAT UP ON THEIR OAFNLT THEIR HEART DOES IT NATURALLY AND WE NEVER HAVE TO DO SURGERY.

IF SURGERY IS NEEDED WHAT WE HAVE TO DO IS HAVE A SPECIAL PHYSICIAN CALLED A CARDIOTHORACIC SURGEON, AND THEY ACTUALLY OPEN THE HEART AND PUT A SPECIAL PATCH OF MATERIAL, AND ACTUALLY SEW IT UP JUST LIKE YOU WOULD A PATCH ON YOUR KNEE IF OFF HOLE IN YOUR JEANS AND PUT STITCHES AROUND THAT AREA OR SEW WITH A SPECIAL NEEDLE AND THREAD.

AND THEN THE HEART FORMS AROUND IT AND EVERYTHING IS FINE AFTER THAT.

>> THAT'S AMAZING.

>> IT'S PRETTY AMAZING.

>> LET'S GO TO PAUL.

PAUL.

>> HI.

>> HI.

>> HOW MANY TIMES DOES YOUR HEARTBEAT WHEN YOU ARE RUNNING?

>> HOW OLD ARE YOU, PAUL?

>> K-6.

>> PAUL IS ABOUT 10 OR 12.

HIS HEART PROBABLY GETS UP TO 170 BEATS A MINUTE WHEN HE IS WORKING REALLY HARD.

>> IS THAT GOOD OR BAD?

YOU DON'T WANT -- YOU WANT TO KEEP IT GOING?

>> AT THAT AVERAGE KIDS, MOST KIDS THAT ARE HEALTHY, THEY DON'T THINK ABOUT THEIR HEART AND HOW FAST IT'S BEATING.

OLDER FOLKS, YOU HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THAT BECAUSE WE CAN'T KEEP IT UP FOR AS LONG.

BUT, NO, IT'S PERFECTLY NORMAL AND KIDS CAN GET THEIR HEARTBEAT UP TO 200 BEATS A MINUTE AND FEEL FINE OUT THERE PLAYING.

>> IF YOU ARE GOING TO KEEP -- DO YOU HAVE TO WORK YOUR HEART AND KEEP ACTIVE, A MUSCLE LIKE YOU TRAIN MUSCLES IN YOUR LEGISLATION OR YOUR ARMS?

>> AS A CHILD YOU DON'T.

CHILDREN DO IT NATURALLY APPROXIMATELY BUT AS YOU GROW OLDER -- >> THE ANSWER IS OBVIOUSLY YES.

IN FACT, PEOPLE THAT EXERCISE HAVE A LOWER RATE OF HAVING HEART ATTACKS AND IF THEY DO HAVE A HEART ATTACK THEY ARE MUCH MORE LIKELY TO SURVIVE.

SO THAT'S AN IMPORTANT PART AS YOU GET OLDER AN ACTIVITY YOU SHOULD GET INTO.

>> SPEAKING OF THAT, BLAKE IN CALDWELL.

BLAKE.

>> HOW DOES THE HEART AGE?

>> HOW DOES THE HEART AGE?

>> WELL, IT AGES RATHER SLOWLY COMPARED TO THE REST OF US.

IN OTHER WORDS, AS YOU GET OLDER, EVEN YOUR PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS USUALLY CAN MAINTAIN THE SAME AMOUNT OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AS YOU CAN WHEN YOU ARE A YOUNG ADULT BUT AT THAT AGE, AS LONG AS YOU TAKE CARE OF IT, IT WILL WEAR OUT BEFORE YOU DO.

>> LET'S TO GO JOSEPH IN NAMPA.

JOSEPH?

>> HELLO.

>> THINKS JOSEPH?

>> YEAH.

>> GO AHEAD, JOSEPH.

>> I WANT TO ASK, WHAT IS CONGESTION HEART FAILURE?

>> CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE.

>> THAT AT A GOOD QUESTION.

THAT'S A DISEASE WHERE THE HEART DOESN'T PUMP ENOUGH BLOOD OUT AND SO THE THINGS THAT CAN HAPPEN ARE, FIRST.

ALL, PEOPLE WILL FEEL WEAK OR GET TIRED EASILY.

A SECOND PROBLEM OCCURS WHEN THEY GET BLOOD BUILT UP IN THEIR LUNGS BECAUSE THE HEART IS NOT PUMPING IT OUT.

AND AT TIMES THAT BLOOD CAN EVEN BUILD UP IN THE FEET BECAUSE IT CAN'T CIRCULATE BACK TO THE HEART.

AND CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE CAN BE CAUSED BY A VARIETY OF OTHER DISEASES BUT IT'S ALWAYS TREATABLE IF WE GET IT EARLY ENOUGH.

>> TRY ELIZABETH IN POST FALLS.

ELIZABETH.

ARE YOU THERE, ELIZABETH?

DID WE LOSE YOU, ELIZABETH?

OK.

ELIZABETH'S QUESTION IS WHY IS BLOOD PRESSURE SENATOR.

>> BLOOD PRESSURE IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT HELPS TO GET THE BLOOD GOING WHERE IT NEEDS TO GO.

IT'S IMPORTANT IN TERMS OF GETTING FLOW FROM YOUR HEART ALL THE WAY OUT TO YOUR TOES, TO YOUR BRAIN.

IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT'S WHAT KEEPS THE BLOOD VESSELS OPEN.

>> WHEN YOU GET YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE TAKEN THERE ARE TWO NUMBERS THAT YOU GET.

COULD YOU TELL US WHAT THOSE TWO NUMBERS ARE.

>> THE TOP NUMBER, LIKE LET'S SAY IT'S 100 OVER 60 OR 120 OVER 80 ARE THE NUMBERS YOU HEAR ON TV QUITE A BIT.

THE TOP NUMBER IS CALL WOULD THE SIS STOLL LICK BLOOD PRESSURE, THE PUMPING UNUSUAL.

THE LOWER NUMBER IS DIASTOLIC AND THE EASY ARE WAY TO REMEMBER THAT IS THE AMOUNT OF PRESSURE THAT STAYED BEHIND TO KEEP THE FLOW GOING TO THE HEART MUSCLE ITSELF AND TO KEEP THE VESSELS OPEN.

>> WHAT'S HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE?

>> NUMBERWISE?

HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE FOR AN ADULT WOULD BE OVER 140 IF YOU DON'T HAVE DIABETES BUT IF YOU DO IT'S OVER 130 NOW.

>> WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO TREAT HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE?

>> THE MAIN RISKERS STROKE, HEART -- STROKE LIKE A BRAIN ATTACK WHERE YOUR CIRCULATION TO YOUR BRAIN GETS CUT OFF.

HEART ATTACKS AND THEN IT CAN ALSO DAMAGE KIDNEYS AND OTHER ORGANS.

>> LET'S GO TO JOE IN BOISE.

JOE.

>> HI.

MY QUESTION WAS, IS AN ATHLETE'S HEART BIGGER THAN THE AVERAGE PERSON?

>> IS AN ATHLETE'S HEART BIGGER THAN AN AVERAGE PERSON?

>> IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE, JOE, BUT IT CAN BE.

AND WHAT MAKES THE ATHLETE'S HEART A LITTLE BIT BIGGER, IF YOU WERE, IN TERMS OF LOAD IS THAT THE PUMPING CHAMBERS CAN BECOME A LITTLE BIT THICKER.

AND THAT IS SORT OF THE SAME WAY OF THINKING LIKE IF YOU DO A LOT OF PUSHUPS AND YOUR CHEST AND ARM MUSCLES GET TO BE A LITTLE BIT BIGGER.

AND SO THE CLASSICAL ATHLETE TICK HEART CAN BE A LITTLE BIT THICKER BUT IT'S PUT TOGETHER THE SAME WAY AS ANYONE ELSE'S NORMAL HEART WOULD BE AND IT WORKS VERY EFFICIENTLY.

>> YOU SEE SOME OF THE OLYMPIC ATHLETES IF YOU HAVE BEEN WATCHING TOWARD THE SKATING OR THEY ARE BREATHING REALLY HEART.

-- HARD.

>> THEY ARE WORKING VERY HARD.

>> LET'S SEE IF WE CAN GO TO ASHLEY.

ASHLEY.

ARE YOU THERE, ASHLEY?

>> YES, I AM.

MY QUESTION IS, HOW COUNTY HEART PUMP BLOOD THROUGH THE WHOLE BODY?

>> IF YOU STRETCH OUT ALL THOSE VEINS THAT GO ALMOST THREE TIME AROUND THE WORLD, THAT'S A LOT OF DISTANCE.

HOW DOES THE HEART ACTUALLY GET THAT BLOOD ALL THE WAY THROUGH THERE?

>> WELL, IT IS A MUSCLE.

AND IT IS CONTRACTING AND EVERY TIME IT FILLS, IT HAS A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF VOLUME AND EVERY TIME IT SQUEEZES IT SENDS OUT VOLUME DOWN THE ROAD.

AND SO IT'S NOT LIKE IT'S JUST TAKING ONE LITTLE RED BLOOD CELL AND SENDINGS IT THREE TIMES AROUND THE WOMPLD IT'S GOING PIECE BY PIECE.

IT DOES IT BY BASICALLY WORKING AS A UNIT.

I PUMP, I FILL, I PUMP, I FILL.

AND EVERY STEP WITH EVERY PUMP YOU ARE PUSHING THE BLOOD FURTHER DOWN.

AND THOSE BULB NUMBERS WE WERE TAWRK BECOME HELP TO BE ABLE TO GET THE FLOW IN A FORWARD FASHION.

>> CIRCULATORY SYSTEM.

>> RIGHT.

IT ALL WORKS AS A UNIT.

>> THIS IS A MORE PHILOSOPHICAL QUESTION THAT CAME FROM MRS.

REASON KEY'S CLASS.

HOW DOES THE HUMAN HEART FEEL WHEN YOU LOVE SOMEONE AND YOUR HARD, AND YOUR HEART DOESN'T -- LET'S TALK ABOUT LOVE.

THE HEART AND LOVE COMES TOGETHER.

CAN YOU REALLY BREAK YOUR HEART?

>> WELL, I THINK THAT YOU CAN FEEL AS THOUGH YOU HAVE BROKEN YOUR HEART & THERE ARE SOME MEDICAL CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE YOUR HEART IS VERY BROKEN AND WE HAVE TO TRY TO FIX THAT.

BUT I THINK THE HEART HAS SORT OF BECOME THE CENTER OF WHERE THAT EMOTIONAL, EVERYTHING THAT WE FEEL, WE FEEL IT IN OUR HEART.

AND IT PROBABLY IN ACTUALITY WE FEEL IT IN THE STRF OUR PERSON BUT WE HAVE COME TO THINK OF THE HEART AS THE SITE WHERE THAT HAPPENS.

BUT THERE'S A TIME OR TWO WHEN I THOUGHT MY HEART WAS BROKEN, TOO.

>> YOU PROBABLY SHOULDN'T SEE A CARDIOLOGIST IF YOUR HEART IS BROKEN?

FROM LOVE?

>> MY SON CALLS IT LOVE FEVER.

IT'S CALLED LOVE FEVER.

AND COME YOUR HEART IS BROKEN AT LEAST IN HIS CASE HE HAS MOM AND A CARDIOLOGIST.

>> LET'S TO GO DUSTIN IN WESTIN.

>> HOW DO YOU GET A HEART MURMUR?

>> HOW DO YOU GAETTI HEART MURMUR?

>> YES.

>> ACTUALLY, A HEART MURMUR IS NOT NECESSARILY SOMETHING YOU GET.

IN SOME CIRCUMSTANCES, A HEART MURMUR IS JUST A NORMAL SOUND OF BLOOD AS ITS MOVES THROUGH YOUR HEART.

AND WHEN WE AS DOCTORS LISTEN WITH A STETHOSCOPE THAT'S WHAT WE PUT IN OUR EARS TO LISTEN -- WE HEAR THAT FLOW MOVING.

SOMETIMES YOU CAN HAVE A PROBLEM WITH YOUR HEART, A VALVE IS ABNORMAL OR THERE'S A HOLE IN YOUR HEART OR YOUR HEART IS NOT WORK WELL BECAUSE IT'S HAD A HEART ATTACK AND THEN THE SOUNDS OF THE BLOOD ARE DIFFERENT.

AND THOSE ARE WHAT WE WOULD CONSIDER A PATH LOGIC MURMUR WHICH MEANS SOMETHING BAD IS GOING ON INSIDE.

>> HOW DO THEY DO SURGERY ON YOUR HEART?

IF YOU HAVE TO HAVE YOUR HEART PUMPING TO KEEP YOU ALIVE BUT THEY HAVE TO NG AND FIX THE HEART, HOW DO THEY DO THAT?

>> WELL, THIS IS OVER 30 YEARS IN DEVELOPMENT.

AND THEY ACTUALLY STOP THE HEART.

AND THEY STOP THE HEART FOR ANYWHERE BETWEEN 20 MINUTES AND UP TO AN HOUR OR MORE IF THEY HAVE TO.

AND THE WAY THEY GET AROUND THAT IS BY COOLING THE BODY DOWN SIGNIFICANTLY AND THE HEART.

THEY PUT IT IN AN ICE BATH SO THAT IT'S SO COLD THAT IT DOESN'T NEED TO CIRCULATED.

LIKE PUTTING YOUR DINNER IN THE REFRIGERATOR.

KIND OF SITS THERE WAITING FOR THE NEXT MEAL.

AND THEN THEY CAN DO THE SURGERY WITH THE HEART NOT BEATING.

AND THEN THEY START IT UP AGAIN AFTER THEY WARM IT UP.

>> AND PEOPLE DO OK?

>> YES.

>> DO AMAZINGLY OK.

>> I HAVE ACTUALLY SEEN IT.

IT'S AN INTERESTING, FASCINATING PROCESS, ONE I HOPE TO AVOID.

>> RIGHT.

>> HOW DID YOU DECIDE TO BECOME DOCTORS OF THE HEART?

>> WELL, I THINK I WAS BORN WITH THE IDEA.

WHEN I WAS IN SIXTH GRADE, I USED TO DRAW HEARTS AND PRETEND THEY WERE BROKEN AND PRETEND I COULD FIX THEM.

AND I JUST HAD A LOVE OF WANTING TO UNDERSTAND WHY KIDS HAD PROBLEMS WITH THEIR HEARTS.

SO FROM MY STANDPOINT, IT WAS A CHILDHOOD THOUGHT AND PROCESS AND I JUST CONTINUED TO GO TO SCHOOL FOR A LONG TIME UNTIL I COULD FINALLY GROW UP TO BE ABLE TO DO IT.

>> IN MY CASE, IT WAS LESS THOUGHT OUT THAN THAT.

BUT I ALWAYS ENJOYED SCIENCE, ESPECIALLY MATH, AND THAT LED ME INTO THE BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES WHEN I GOT TO COLLEGE.

AND FROM THERE I WANTED TO DO SOMETHING THAT WORKED WITH PEOPLE DIRECTLY, WHICH LED ME TO MEDICAL SCHOOL.

>> SOMEONE IS INTERESTED IN BECOMING A CARDIOLOGIST, WHAT SHOULD THEY DO?

>> ONE IS ENJOY SCHOOL.

AND ENJOY THE PROCESS OF LEARNING.

BECAUSE WHAT MAKES A REALLY FINE DOCTOR IS SOMEONE WHO IS WELL ROUNDED AND KNOWS NOT JUST EVERYTHING ABOUT SCIENCE BUT KNOWS ABOUT LIFE AND HAS ACTUALLY LIVED TO BE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, HELP PEOPLE AND ENJOY THE PROCESS OF HELPING.

BUT DOING WELL IN SCHOOL AND ASKING QUESTIONS, NOT BEING AFRAID TO GO TO THE LIBRARY AND CHECKING OUT BOOKS ON THE HEART, AND ACTUALLY CALLING US AND MEETING WITH US.

WE HAVE DONE THAT AS WELL.

>> I MIGHT JUST ADD FROM PRACTICAL STANDPOINT, TALK TO OTHER PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THE MEDICAL PROFESSION, WHETHER IT'S NURSES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OR WHEN YOU GO SEE YOUR DOCTOR, TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR AND ASK HIM WHARKS DID YOU HAVE TO DO TO GET INTO MEDICINE?

WHAT THINGS WOULD I WANT TO BE DOING NOW?

HAVE THAT DIRECTION IF THEY THINK YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED.

>> WHAT PIECE, WE HAVE 20 SECONDS.

WHAT PIECE OF ADVICE CAN YOU GIVE TO AWFUL US TO TAKE BETTER CARE OF OUR HEARTS?

>> LAUGH.

>> LAUGHTER?

>> MY RECOMMENDATION IS MAINTAIN AN ACTIVE LIFESTYLE ALL THROUGH YOUR RIE.

BE ACTIVE AND DON'T START SMOKING.

>> BE HAPPY.

>> THANK YOU BOTH.

I APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE TIME TO COME ON TODAY.

WE HAVE LOTS MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE HEART ON OUR WEBSITE.

CHECK IT OUT AT IDAHOPTV.ORG/DIALOGUE4KIDS.

ON OUR NEXT "DIALOGUE FOR KIDS," WE WILL BE TALKING ABOUT THE VOLCANOES.

JOIN US ON MARCH 21 AT 2:00 P.M.

MOUNTAIN, ONE O'CLOCK PACIFIC.

AND SEND IN YOUR QUESTIONS AND REMEMBER, WHEN YOU ENTER A QUESTION, YOU AND YOUR CLASS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR OUR BOOK CONTEST.

SPEAKING OF THAT, LAST MONTH'S WINNER WAS KENDRA IN MRS.

RICE'S 5TH GRADE CLASS AT PURPLE SAGE ELEMENTARY IN MIDDLETON.

CONGRATULATIONS, KEN DRA.

THANKS FORCH TUNING IN.

WE WILL SEE YOU NEXT TIME HERE ON "DIALOGUE FOR KIDS."

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