My Heart Is a Pump

Your heart is a muscle.
It is about the size of your fist.
Your heart pumps blood.
It sends blood all through your body.

Your heart is part of a system.
This system is called your cardiovascular system.
It has your heart, blood, and blood vessels.
Blood vessels are like little tubes.
Blood moves through them.

Some tubes are called veins.
Veins carry blood back to your heart.
Some tubes are called arteries.
Arteries carry blood away from your heart.

Blood carries good things to your body.
It carries oxygen.
Oxygen helps your muscles work.

Your heart is like other muscles.
Think about your arm muscle.
If you use it, it gets stronger.
Your heart works the same way.
If you exercise, your heart gets stronger too.

Get Moving to Help Your Heart

Exercise is moving your body.
It helps your whole body.
It helps your heart the most.

Some exercises are great for your heart.
These are called aerobic exercises.
Aerobic means your big muscles move.
They move for a long time.

Here are some aerobic exercises:

• Walking fast
• Running
• Hiking
• Riding a bike
• Swimming
• Dancing
• Playing sports, like soccer or basketball

When you do these, your heart works hard.
A strong heart can help you all your life.

Listen to Your Heart

Your heart makes a sound.
It sounds like "lub-dub."
That is your heart pumping blood.

You can find your heartbeat.
Your heartbeat is also called your pulse.
Your pulse is how many times your heart beats.
We count the beats in one minute.

You can feel your pulse in your wrist.
Use two fingers.
Do not use your thumb.
Your thumb has its own small pulse.

Signs You Are Exercising

When you rest, your heart beats slowly.
When you exercise, your heart beats faster.
You breathe faster too.
Your skin may turn pink.
You may start to sweat.

These are all signs.
They show your heart is working hard.
Working hard makes your heart strong!