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We don’t consciously think about our hearts but this tireless organ performs an amazing feat, consistently pumping about 100,000 times every day of our lives. Our hearts do such a good job that we don’t take notice– and that’s good. But no one should wait for something to go wrong when it comes to their hearts.
Egyptians believed the soul resided in the heart
Ancient Egyptians knew the heart was an important organ. They embalmed hearts and believed that hearts were the source of emotions and thought. Imagine what it would be like to believe your thoughts were coming from your chest!
Heart disease is the leading cause of death worldwide
Heart Disease causes more deaths than cancer, accidents, respiratory infections and strokes, according the World Health Organization. It’s important to take care of your heart.
Most people aren’t sure how to take care of their heart
We see the labels that say “heart healthy” and we know that some fats are bad for us (is it butter that’s the bad guy? Maybe red meat? Or possibly all the cheese I’ve been stress eating?) According to the Mayo Clinic, keeping your heart healthy boils down to:
- No smoking or tobacco use of any kind. This is the most significant risk factor for heart disease.
- Exercise for 30 min most days of the week
- Eat a healthy diet. This is potentially the most confusing aspect of heart health, but The Mayo Clinic breaks it down nicely.
- Maintain a Healthy Weight
- Get Quality Sleep
- Manage stress in healthy ways
- Get regular health screenings. It’s best to catch warning signs early!
You might not know you’re having a heart attack
A heart attack might be accompanied by pain, but it might not. According to the American Heart Association, signs of a heart attack include:
- Shortness of breath
- Nasea
- Feeling light headed
- Pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the jaw, neck or back
You don’t have to have a family history of heart attacks to be prone to one
Factors that make a heart attack more likely include:
- Smoking
- Lack of exercize
- A diet high in trans and saturated fats
Squids have more than one heart
These inky creatures of the deep have three hearts. Two hearts pump blood to the gills to pick up oxygen. The third heart pumps the oxygen rich blood throughout the squid’s body.
Women are just as likely as men to die from heart disease
Heart disease was long thought to be a health issue for men, but women and men die from heart disease at similar rates in the United States, according to the CDC. Women might not recognize, or even look for, signs of heart disease because it’s thought of as a disease that affects men. Heart disease is the number one killer for men and women.
By Victorgrigas – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0,
Heart Disease isn’t a modern disease
Some mummies from Ancient Egypt display signs of heart disease. Which just goes to show, no matter what era you’re from, it’s important to take care of your heart.
Giraffes have lopsided hearts
Giraffes have a unique heart and high blood pressure. This is because their hearts must send blood all the way up their long necks.
Human hearts are about the size of an adult’s fist
Our hearts are truly small but mighty.
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