Have you ever seen a human heart?
The symbol for the human heart was invented by songwriter Henry Dacre. The adorable heart-shaped logo has been a symbol of love for almost 100 years! However, the cute drawing doesn’t resemble our actual hearts at all.
In reality, a human heart is more globular and undefined. While our hearts might not be romantic looking, they’re still fascinating nonetheless!
So, how exactly does the human heart work? Read on to find11 amazing facts about the human heart.
Fact 1 Heartbeats
First, on our list of facts about the human heart, let’s talk heartbeats. The average human heart beats 72 times per minute. That’s over 1 beat a second. By the time you’re done reading this article, you’ll experience hundreds of heartbeats!
Fact 2 Heart Weight
In a healthy adult, the heart is typically located about midway between the shoulder blades just below the rib cage. It weighs approximately 300-350 grams and is capable of pumping about 2,000 liters of blood every day.
Fact 3 Heart Modes
The human heart has its modes The sinoatrial node (SA node) is responsible for making the heartbeat regular. Whereas, the atrioventricular node (AV node) makes sure that each contraction of the heart is synchronized with a beat from the other ventricle. You can always get more info about your heart rhythms, to understand your body better.
Fact 4 Heart Rate
A person’s heartbeat can change from second to second because it speeds up with exercise or slows down when you’re resting. Take a deep breath, relax a minute, and your heart rate will begin to regulate.
Fact 5 Heart Failure
Heart failure occurs when your kidneys cannot eliminate enough waste products. This causes fluid to build up in your lungs and around your heart, eventually interfering with its ability to pump properly and sending sufferers into congestive heart failure.
Fact 6 Heart Muscles
The human heart is the first or second most powerful muscle in the body. The powerful muscle beats approximately 3 billion times during the average person’s life. The heart contracts and relaxes to pump blood through our bodies. The ventricles (lower chambers) are responsible for pushing the blood into the arteries, which then carry it throughout the body.
Fact 7 Baby Hearts
At birth, a baby’s heart is about the size of his fist. It’s at this time that the heart pumps 6 ounces of blood per minute (18 liters per hour).
Fact 8 Heart Size
The average human heart weighs between 12 to 14 ounces (350 grams) and is about the shape of your fist (width-wise) too. Go ahead and make a fist to get a good feel for what your heart size is.
Fact 9 Heart Lifespan
The average lifespan of a human heart is about 75 years. However, with the right lifestyle choices, you could be enjoying 100 heartbeats per minute for years to come! You can prevent all sorts of heart diseases, and heart conditions, by simply exercising for a few minutes every day.
Fact 10 Women’s Hearts
Next on our list of heart facts, let’s talk about gender differences in heart functions. A woman’s heart beats faster than a man’s by approximately 30 to 50 percent. This difference may be because women generally have smaller arteries and veins.
Fact 11 Animal Hearts
Up until now, it was believed that the human heart was closely related to a dog’s heart. But researchers have recently identified it as being somewhat similar to a pig’s heart!
Learn More Facts About the Human Heart
Now you know 11 interesting facts about the human heart. The next time you see this symbol of love, keep in mind how fascinating and powerful your own heart is. It’s capable of pumping blood through your body with strength and speed, but it can also fail under certain circumstances.
Hopefully, these useful insights will help you understand your health better so that you’re able to take care of yourself accordingly. Now, look up a photo of the human heart so you can see what it looks like. Then why not read another article?