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6 Amazing Facts about the Human Heart You Should Know

Jun 20, 2018

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Most people don't think about what their heart is doing on a day-to-day basis. Read on to learn six amazing facts about the heart and its health from the cardiology specialists in Suffolk County, NY, at Peconic Bay Medical Center.

Beats, Gallons, and Miles

Your heart beats 100,000 times a day. Those beats are responsible for pumping 2,000 gallons of blood through 60,000 miles of blood vessels; that's about 15 times the average radius of the Earth! The blood delivers nutrients to your muscles, organs, and other tissues to keep them and you alive.

Heart Attacks and Women

More than half a million women have heart attacks annually. Women experience heart attacks differently than men. The average woman's heart weighs about 8 ounces. Women tend to experience nausea, shoulder aches, and indigestion as signs of a heart attack. Some will have chest pain, but many do not.

Heart Attacks and Men

The average man's heart weighs 10 ounces. Men who experience heart attacks will usually exhibit chest pain that may radiate down the arm. Heart disease is the number one killer of men and women. The best way to prevent heart disease is to stop smoking and check cholesterol levels and blood pressure regularly.

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Laughter Is the Best Medicine

A good belly laugh improves your blood flow and keeps your heart healthy. Laughing also expands the blood vessels and relaxes their linings. So, watch that funny movie or do whatever it takes to get your laugh on.

Don't Hate Mondays

Monday mornings are so stressful for many people that it's the most common time to have a heart attack. Every morning sees a spike in blood pressure and stress chemicals; Monday adds in the going-back-to-work stress that creates a perfect storm for a heart attack. Reducing your stress through meditation, exercise, or family time can reduce your risk for heart attacks.

Loving It

One British study showed that men who climaxed three or four times a week cut their risk of heart attack in half. Additionally, ED may signal heart problems up to five years before they manifest as a heart attack. The effect isn't clear for women, though it's well known that intercourse is a good way to relieve stress and burns about 85 calories in a half hour.

Now that you know how great your heart is, you should want to take care of it more than ever. Maintaining a healthy diet and exercising regularly is a good way to start. Visit your doctor for a yearly checkup to monitor your health and your heart, so you can take other corrective actions before your heart fails you. Schedule an appointment for your heart today with the experts at Peconic Bay Medical Center's cardiology center in Suffolk County, NY.