There are many organs in our body and each one has its own unique functions. However, there is one of them, when it is absent, does not work correctly or does not work at all, there is no escape, we die directly. This organ, which we call the heart and which is small when we look at the rest of our body, works even if we are not aware of it, pumps blood non-stop and forms the most basic structure of the system necessary for life.
Of course, anyone who has taken basic biology in school knows more or less about the human heart. But do we really know this organ, which is the basis of our life? Scientists are still doing countless studies on organs that are the basis of life, such as the brain and heart, and after each study, new information is revealed that we do not know. Let’s take a closer look at some interesting facts about the human heart that you might be surprised to hear.
Interesting facts about the human heart:
Everyone’s heart is as big as his fist:
Extend your hand forward and form a fist. Then place that fist on your chest. That’s just the size of your heart, which is the source of your life. The standard human heart weighs between 250 and 350 grams. When we consider how the vessels are in a thin structure over the dimensions of this small organ, we once again understand how important cardiovascular health is.
Your heart beats 100,000 times a day:
Of course, there are many exceptions to this situation, but a standard human heart beats about 100,000 times a day, that is, three billion times in an average lifetime. If we do not count the intense exercises and the moments when we get excited, this shot comes up with an average of 60 – 80 times per minute. The heart of newborn babies is faster and can beat 70 – 190 times per minute. Women’s hearts also beat faster. The male heart beats 70 times per minute, while the female heart beats 78 times per minute.
Your heart keeps pumping blood until you die:
In the fourth week of pregnancy, the fetal heart forms and begins to beat. Our heart, which starts beating before we are born, continues to beat until we die. The heart pumps 5.7 liters of blood per day to the body. The total amount of blood pumped in a lifetime is 1.5 billion barrels, enough to fill 200 tankers. The energy our heart generates as it pumps blood is enough for a truck to travel 32 kilometers. If we consider the whole human life, it is possible to go to the Moon with the energy that the heart produces while pumping blood.
Our heart is under strict protection:
Contrary to what is known, the human heart is in the middle of our chest and faces slightly to the left. This organ, which is extremely important for human life, is protected by our rib cage. The rib cage is one of the strongest bones in our body and is extremely difficult to open even during open heart surgery. The human heart has its own unique electrical cycle. Therefore, as long as there is sufficient oxygen supply, it will continue to beat on its own even if it is removed from the rib cage.
Heart diseases have been with us for thousands of years:
Unfortunately, in recent years, cardiovascular diseases are more common than ever due to inactivity, stress and unhealthy living conditions. But don’t think that heart disease is something new to people. When the remains of a 3500-year-old mummy discovered during excavations in Egypt were examined, it was determined that he had a heart disease. In other words, even our ancestors who lived thousands of years ago had heart disease.
Take care of your heart on the first day of the week:
In the human heart, there are vessels called coronary vessels that are responsible for oxygen and nutrients. As a result of the occlusion or excessive narrowing of these vessels, blood flow is interrupted and a heart attack occurs. It is not known exactly why, but when heart attack cases are examined, it is seen that most heart attacks occur on Mondays. Likewise, on January 1, the first day of the year, the number of heart attacks is quite high. Your heart may wake up tired the next day because of unusual activities on New Year’s Day.
Your heart might really break:
You may be thinking who didn’t break my tired heart, but this concept is not just a romantic word. Your heart can actually experience a condition called broken heart syndrome, producing symptoms similar to a heart attack. Heart attack occurs due to different cardiovascular diseases. Broken heart syndrome occurs due to hormonal changes caused by emotional or physical stress. Although rare, death can occur due to broken heart syndrome. Let’s add that laughing is good for the heart.
Heart cancer is extremely rare:
Even if cancer is not diagnosed, a person may have cancerous cells in their body. As long as cancerous cells do not multiply and spread, they stand on their own. However, if it multiplies and spreads, cancer diseases are inevitable. The heart is an exceptional organ in this regard. Because heart cells are in a structure that stops dividing. Therefore, even if there are cancerous cells in the heart, the probability of developing heart cancer is extremely low. Yet it is not impossible. When such a doubt arises, you should definitely be examined by a specialist doctor.
In the 20th century, studies on the heart gained momentum:
Studies have been carried out on the heart, our most vital organ, since the beginning of humanity. In the 20th century, these studies gained momentum. In 1903, the electrocardiograph, which measures the electrical current in the heart, was invented, and in 1929 cardiac catheterization was invented. On December 3, 167, the first heart transplant was performed. The recipient only lived for 18 days, but it was still a successful operation.
We shared some interesting information about the human heart, which is the most important organ of our body, necessary for our life, and explained the details you need to know. Exercise, eat healthy, quit your bad habits and take care of your heart by laughing a lot.