8 Interesting Facts About The Heart

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February 1, 2023

BDYWC Heart Month, Interesting Facts

8 Interesting Facts About The Heart

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February is American Heart Month. Our very first blog posts will be dedicated to learning more about the heart and all the ways we can take the best care of it.

The heart is one of the most complex organs and the strongest muscle in our bodies! Here are 8 facts about the human heart that may surprise you:

1. The heart has its own electrical supply and can continue to beat when separated from the body.4

All muscles need a source of energy and oxygen to function. An electrical conduction system regulates the heart and keeps it pumping 24/7. As long as the heart still has oxygen, the electrical conduction system can still contract the heart – even when separated from the body.12

2. The heart pumps about 2,000 gallons of blood per day.2

All that blood has to travel about 12,000 miles throughout the body each day.8 2,000 gallons is equivalent to approximately 17,000 pounds – that’s about the weight of a full-grown African elephant mother along with one baby!

3. Your heart is closer in color to a brick house rather than the color red. Fat deposits on the heart make the surface look very yellow.3

While the blood that travels through our bodies varies from bright cherry red to a dark brick red, the heart is darker and browner than the blood it pumps.3 9

4. Being physically inactive puts you at a greater risk for heart disease than smoking.1

Physical inactivity is the term used for individuals who do not meet the recommended level of regular physical activity. The American Heart Association recommends 30-60 minutes of aerobic exercise 3-4 times per week to promote cardiovascular fitness, so individuals who do not work out that duration and often are considered inactive.5

Twice as many adults in the United States are physically inactive than smoke cigarettes.

Less active, less fit individuals have a 30-50% greater risk of developing high blood pressure. Inactivity ranks similarly to cigarette smoking, high blood pressure and cholesterol in regard to health impacts.5

5. The more education you have, the lower the risk of heart disease.4

In a study of 553 participants (38-47 years old), participants with a college degree had 27.9% lower cardiovascular heart disease risk (after accounting for demographic factors).11

6. The heart is not on the left side of the chest. Our hearts are actually in the middle of our chest, but slightly tilted to the left.3

When saluting the flag, everyone places their right hand over the left side of their chest or “over their heart.” The heart is actually located between the lungs in the middle of your chest and lies slightly behind and to the left of the breastbone (sternum).10

7. Christmas day is the most common day of the year for heart attacks to occur.2

The holiday season can be very hectic. Researchers are not entirely sure why heart attacks occur more frequently during this time, but they believe it can be caused by7:

– changes in diet and alcohol consumption from social gatherings

– an increase in particulate pollution during the winter

– blood flow restriction through constricted vessels by cold temperatures

– individuals who are experiencing symptoms that wait to seek treatment until after the holidays.

8. The heart works twice as hard as the leg muscles of a sprinter.8

The heart is the hardest working muscle in the body. The heart is so forceful that it pumps out 2 ounces of blood in every heartbeat. The heart contracts 60-100 times per minute (under normal conditions). That totals up to 100,000 heartbeats per day – that’s a lot of reps! The heart never fatigues and has the ability to beat over 3 billion times in a person’s lifetime.8 Think of squeezing a stress or tennis ball. Do you think you could do that 100,000 times a day?12 13

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heart, heart month, interesting facts

Kilyn Parisien

Kilyn Parisien is the BDYWC Marketing Specialist, an experienced and knowledgeable writer who creates informative and engaging blog content to promote the facility’s mission and services.

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8 Interesting Facts About The Heart

1. The heart has its own electrical supply and can continue to beat when separated from the body.4

2. The heart pumps about 2,000 gallons of blood per day.2

3. Your heart is closer in color to a brick house rather than the color red. Fat deposits on the heart make the surface look very yellow.3

4. Being physically inactive puts you at a greater risk for heart disease than smoking.1

5. The more education you have, the lower the risk of heart disease.4

6. The heart is not on the left side of the chest. Our hearts are actually in the middle of our chest, but slightly tilted to the left.3

7. Christmas day is the most common day of the year for heart attacks to occur.2

8. The heart works twice as hard as the leg muscles of a sprinter.8

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