Do you know everything you should know about your cardiovascular health? One of the most important lessons that we should all take into account is that our heart follows a cardiac cycle with two fundamental phases for its proper functioning. Have you heard of systole and diastole? If not, don’t worry, because at OneHOWTO we explain in great detail what these two phases of the heart are and how they work.
Discover, below, what these functions consist of and what is the difference
What is systole
To begin with, we tell you that systole is the process that consists of the contraction of the cardiac atrial and ventricular muscle tissue. Each of the phases performs a pumping function using pressure to transport blood from one sector of the heart to another. Atrial systole, for example, is the first step in this process and ensures that the atria of the heart (the two upper chambers separated by a septum) contract and give way to blood flow to the ventricular valves (the lower chambers of the heart). heart).
Ventricular systole, on the other hand, consists of the increase in pressure in the internal part of the ventricles and the expulsion of the blood stored within them. Basically, we can understand ventricular systole as a contraction carried out by the cardiac muscle tissue of the heart’s ventricles. During this process, the bicuspid and tricuspid valves close and prevent blood volume from returning to the chambers thanks to the natural pressure generated by the pumping of the heart.
Subsequently, the blood flows out into the arteries of the lungs and the aorta. These arteries have valves called sigmoid valves that help prevent blood reflux from being generated. Once this contraction process of the cardiac cycle has been carried out, the heart itself remains in a state of relaxation, known as diastole.
What is diastole
Diastole is the cardiac process that the heart performs once the blood leaves the organ through cardiac systole. Diastole is the moment when the heart completely relaxes and allows blood flow from the lungs and arteries to re-enter the ventricular and atrial cavities so that, subsequently, the cardiac cycle repeats itself. This period when the heart stops pumping blood and goes into a resting state while it fills and prepares for systole takes just 0.5 seconds.
Like cardiac systole, diastole comprises two phases: the first is the relaxation of the atria and ventricles, and the second begins with the dilation of the cardiac cavities, which fill with blood fluid to give rise to again, as we have said, to cardiac systole.
During diastole, the atria fill with blood through the superior and inferior vena cava. This generates a rise in internal atrial pressure. Next, ventricular diastole causes the pressure in the ventricles to drop below systolic levels, causing the mitral valve to dilate and the left ventricle of the heart to fill with blood flow. The same thing happens with the right ventricle by lowering the pressure to levels below those of the right atrium, thus causing the tricuspid valve to open and allowing the right atrium to fill with blood.
This article on How the heart works can show you, in more detail, the entire process carried out by the main organ of the circulatory system.
Difference Between Systole and Diastole
Systole and diastole comprise the entire cardiac cycle, and neither could be done without the other. On the other hand, although both depend on the other, the differences between them are quite wide.
As we have mentioned before, while systole is a contraction of the organ to expel blood to the lungs and arteries, diastole is a relaxation phase that allows the heart valves to dilate so that it refills with blood.
Another difference to take into account is that systole requires high pressure to perform its functions correctly, while diastole needs low pressure, otherwise it would not be able to dilate. For its part, in diastole, the blood vessels always remain relaxed and, in systole, contracted.
Generally, an adult with stable heart health has a systolic pressure of 120 millimeters of mercury (mmHg) and a diastolic pressure of 80 mmHg. In order for this pressure to remain stable and our hearts to be in perfect condition, it is necessary to take care of our cardiovascular health. Do not miss this article on How to prevent cardiovascular diseases to know the main points to take into account to lead a healthy life.
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