Why the Heart Is Vital: Key Functions Explained
One of the essential facts about the heart is that the critical component of the cardiovascular system is the heart. It is the working muscle in our body which is the hardest. It is our body’s circulatory system. The structure of the human heart includes four chambers (two atria, two ventricles,) valves, and various arteries and veins. The essential capacity of the heart is to course oxygen-rich blood to all pieces of our body. For our survival, it is very much necessary for us to keep our heart healthy with well-balanced exercise as well as diet to avoid any kind of damage.
Amazing Facts About Heart
There are many facts about the heart which is known as well as unknown to us. There are many amazing facts about heart which amuses us which are described as follows:
10 Facts About The Human Heart
The primary 10 facts about your heart which might be an unknown fact for you are:
One of the facts about the heart is that the size of an adult fist or two hands clasped together is the size of an average heart.
About 115,000 times a day, your heart will beat.
The opening and closing of the valves of the heart make the beating sound.
Approximately 2000 gallons of blood, your heart pumps each day and can be considered as one of the amazing facts about the heart.
It will extend over 60,000 miles if we need to stretch out our blood vessel system.
The size of a human heart is less than one pound, but a woman’s heart is two ounces lighter than a man’s heart.
A man’s heartbeats are slightly slower than a woman’s heart.
There is a thing known as a broken heart. The symptoms of the broken heart are similar to a heart attack, and the cause of it is generally stress.
For reducing stress and boosting your immune system, laughing is very helpful for your heart.
Other than these ten significant amazing facts about heart, some of the other interesting facts about the heart are:
Fact No. 1
One of the many interesting facts about the heart is that according to the available records, the symptoms of cardiac diseases will widely vary between a man and a woman because of the many risk factors women face.
Fact No. 2
Researchers have found evidence that the heart diseases are 3000 years old and first found in Egyptian mummies which is considered as one of the unknown interesting facts about the heart.
Fact No. 3
One of the facts about the heart is that heart cancer can be considered as one of the rare diseases if we compare it to other types of cancer because in the early age the heart cells stop dividing.
Fact No. 4
The right side of our heart siphons deoxygenated blood into our lungs and the left half of our heart pumps oxygenated or oxygen-rich blood from our lungs to our body.
Fact No. 5
The pulse diminishes when we are resting, which changes between 40 to 60 bpm – beats every minute. This is, for the most part, a direct result of the moderate body's metabolism.
Fact No. 6
During stress, the ladies' heart siphons more blood, her heartbeat rate increments on account of man, the veins of his heart contracts, raising his circulatory strain. It is one of the many amazing facts about the heart.
Fact No. 7
In the whole set of all animals, whales are the mammal in which the largest heart is found weighing around 180 tons and about 30 m its length.
Solved Questions
Explain the risk factors associated with Coronary Artery Disease?
There are many risk factors which you neither protect nor do anything about it.
Being a male increases risks of Coronary Artery Disease.
Being a woman who is now basically in the age which is past menopause.
Being older is prone to this disease.
A family history of heart diseases or coronary artery diseases can lead to a risk factor.
Fun Facts
The iconic shape of the heart, which is said to be a symbol of love, was thought from the silphium plant, which was used as a form of ancient birth control.
The giraffe has an irregular heart, with their left ventricle being a bit thicker than the right ventricle. The left side has to get the blood up to the long neck of the giraffe to reach the brain.
FAQs on Top 10 Amazing Facts About the Human Heart
1. What are some amazing scientific facts about the human heart?
The human heart is a remarkable organ with many incredible characteristics. Here are a few key facts:
Powerful Pump: Every day, the average adult heart beats about 100,000 times, pumping nearly 2,000 gallons (7,500 litres) of blood through a 60,000-mile network of blood vessels.
Not on the Left: Contrary to popular belief, the heart is located in the centre of the chest, between the lungs. It is only tilted slightly to the left, which is why you feel the heartbeat more strongly on that side.
Independent Electrical System: The heart has its own electrical system, the cardiac conduction system, which causes it to beat. This is why a heart can continue to beat for a short time even when removed from the body, as long as it has an oxygen supply.
Size of a Fist: An adult's heart is roughly the size of their own clenched fist. A child's heart is about the size of their fist, too.
2. What are the main symptoms of a heart attack that students should be aware of?
Recognising the symptoms of a heart attack is crucial. While they can start slowly, key signs include:
Chest Discomfort: This is the most common symptom, often described as pressure, squeezing, fullness, or pain in the centre of the chest that lasts for more than a few minutes or goes away and comes back.
Upper Body Pain: Discomfort can spread to other areas, such as one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw, or stomach.
Shortness of Breath: This can occur with or without chest discomfort.
Other Signs: These may include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea, or lightheadedness. It's an important fact that women may experience different symptoms, such as unusual fatigue, without severe chest pain.
3. Does the human heart actually stop when you sneeze?
No, your heart does not stop when you sneeze. This is a common myth. When you sneeze, the pressure inside your chest (intrathoracic pressure) increases significantly. This can briefly compress the blood vessels and momentarily alter the blood flow to the heart, causing your heart rhythm to slightly change or compensate. You might feel a 'skipped' beat, but the electrical activity of the heart does not cease. It continues to function throughout the sneeze.
4. Why is the human circulatory system referred to as a 'double circulation' system?
The term 'double circulation' is used because blood passes through the heart twice for each complete circuit of the body. This is a highly efficient system that separates oxygenated and deoxygenated blood. The two circuits are:
The Pulmonary Circuit: Deoxygenated blood is pumped from the right side of the heart to the lungs to pick up oxygen. This newly oxygenated blood then returns to the left side of the heart.
The Systemic Circuit: The oxygen-rich blood is then pumped from the left side of the heart to the rest of the body to deliver oxygen to tissues and organs. After this, the deoxygenated blood returns to the right side of the heart to begin the cycle again.
5. How is a heartbeat actually generated and regulated inside the body?
A heartbeat is an intricate process controlled by the heart's own electrical system. It is generated by a specialised group of cells called the sinoatrial (SA) node, often known as the heart's natural pacemaker, located in the right atrium. The SA node sends out regular electrical impulses that spread across the atria, causing them to contract and push blood into the ventricles. The impulse then travels to the atrioventricular (AV) node, which passes it down to the ventricles, causing them to contract and pump blood out of the heart. This coordinated contraction and relaxation is what we feel as a single heartbeat.
6. What is the crucial difference between a heart attack and a cardiac arrest?
While often used interchangeably, a heart attack and a cardiac arrest are two different medical emergencies. The key difference lies in the cause:
A heart attack is a 'circulation' problem. It occurs when a blocked artery prevents oxygen-rich blood from reaching a section of the heart muscle. If the blockage isn't cleared quickly, the part of the heart muscle fed by that artery begins to die. The heart is still beating during a heart attack.
A cardiac arrest is an 'electrical' problem. It happens when the heart's electrical system malfunctions, causing it to beat irregularly and chaotically or stop beating altogether. The person becomes unconscious and stops breathing normally. A heart attack can sometimes trigger an electrical disturbance that leads to a cardiac arrest.
7. Can strong emotions like stress or sadness physically affect your heart's health?
Yes, strong and chronic emotions can have a significant physical impact on heart health. When you experience intense stress, your body releases hormones like adrenaline and cortisol, which can cause your heart rate and blood pressure to rise. Over long periods, chronic stress can contribute to high blood pressure and damage to your arteries. In rare cases, an intensely stressful or emotional event can trigger a condition called 'broken heart syndrome' (stress cardiomyopathy), where the heart muscle is temporarily stunned or weakened, mimicking the symptoms of a heart attack but without blocked arteries.
