The human heart is the first organ to receive oxygenated blood. As we breathe in air, oxygen enters the lungs and travels to the tiny alveoli where gas exchange occurs. The thin walls of the alveoli make it easy for oxygen to cross into the blood vessels surrounding the alveoli, and in return carbon dioxide travels the other direction and is exhaled.
The Heart is the first organ to receive oxygen-rich blood
The first organ to receive oxygen rich blood is the heart. The heart is one of the most important organs of the body and needs to work well in order for the organism to survive.
The heart is the engine of the circulatory system and is a powerful muscle pump.
- 100.000 heart beats every day
- 36 million heart beast every year
- Almost 3 billion heart beats in 80 years
- The heart pumps daily about 40 bathtubs of blood (2000 gallons)
When the heart receives the valuable oxygen-rich blood, it might “think” that it want to keep it for itself. As it is an organ that the rest of the body depend on for life, it would be reasonable for the heart to keep as much blood as possible for itself.
However, as long as the blood sits in the heart chambers it is of little use for the heart. If the heart decided to just keep the blood to itself it would not survive for long, and soon the whole organism would stop functioning.
The heart teaches that generosity is the law of life
How does the heart get oxygen-rich blood to its own tissue? The heart needs to get blood into its own coronary arteries in order to benefit from the oxygenated blood that it receives from the lungs. The interesting situation is that the openings to the coronary arteries are not located inside the heart. The entrances to the coronary arteries are located just outside the heart, on the first part of aorta, the main artery which supplies the rest of the body with oxygen rich blood.
So, what does the heart have to do to get hold of the oxygen-rich blood that it receives from the lungs?
You have probably already guessed it. The heart has to pump blood into the aorta to receive blood into the coronary arteries. In other words, the heart must share the valuable blood with the rest of the body if it wants to receive blood to its own muscle tissue.
As long as the heart shares the blood with the rest of the body it will receive the blood that it needs to sustain life. For the heart, the law of life is “Give and you will receive”.
Another interesting aspect is that as it shares the blood with the rest of the body it is also the first organ to benefit from giving and sharing because the coronary arteries are the arteries closest to the heart.
I find it fascinating that the very organ that symbolizes other-centered values such as love, empathy and compassion speaks so directly about the importance of giving, sharing and other centered behavior.
Maybe the principle “give and you shall receive” is not only vital to the heart and the human body, but also for individual and societal wellbeing.
The famous words of Jesus, “Give and you will receive” (Luk 6:38), is a principle that in recent times has caught the interest among researchers. Research suggests that altruism, volunteering, and acts of kindness not only is beneficial to the receiver but also have positive impact on the giver, including wellbeing and mental health.
As the heart generously gives away what it has received it is also important to find a good balance in giving and receiving. The heart consumes more oxygen per tissue mass than other organs and thus needs a higher blood supply than other organs per tissue mass.
Here is another lesson. We are not equal in all aspects of life. Some need more than others, and certain people can give more than others. When it comes to regular sharing of time, energy, and other resources it is important that it is sustainable over time. Too often I have patients in my office who have given more of their energy and time than they can tolerate over time. As a consequence health has deteriorated. We need balance in life, also in giving and receiving.
Conclusion
The heart, the organ in the body that more than any other organ symbolizes love, empathy, and kindness teaches us to give freely to others. More than that, it is the law of life. Living just for oneself is not good for physical, mental and spiritual health. However, as we give of our time, energy and other resources we do not only help the receiver, but we are positively affected by being good to others.
Give and you will receive
Jesus (Luke 6:38)
Sources
- Aknin, Lara B., and Ashley V. Whillans. “Helping and happiness: A review and guide for public policy.” Social Issues and Policy Review 15.1 (2021): 3-34.
Post, Stephen G. “Altruism, happiness, and health: It’s good to be good.” An Exploration of the Health Benefits of Factors That Help Us to Thrive (2014): 66-76. - Pressman, Sarah D., Tara L. Kraft, and Marie P. Cross. “It’s good to do good and receive good: The impact of a ‘pay it forward’style kindness intervention on giver and receiver well-being.” The Journal of Positive Psychology 10.4 (2015): 293-302.
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