Learn more about your heart

We know that the heart is a powerful organ that pumps blood throughout the body supplying oxygen and nutrients to tissues and removing waste products. But how much do you really know about your heart and the history of medical care for your heart?

Ten interesting facts about the heart

1. Your heart is about as big as your fist.
2. Heart disease has been detected in mummies that are older than 3 000 years.
3. A study showed most heart attacks happen on a Monday.
4. The heart can keep beating outside the body for a short time.
5. The first pacemakers plugged into a wall.
6. Heart attacks are more common during the festive season.
7. A new-born’s heart beats faster than an adult’s heart.
8. The heart pumps about 5.7 liters of blood throughout the body.
9. Happiness can lower your risk of heart disease.
10. The sound of your heartbeat is made by the heart valves opening and closing.

People used to believe you can die from a broken heart

In old books and romance novels you sometimes read that a character died of a broken heart. But is it really possible to die from sadness? Unless stress causes a heart attack, probably not.

However, mental or emotional stress can physically affect your heart and create the symptoms of a heart attack. This is called broken heart syndrome or stress-induced cardiomyopathy.

Mental or emotional stress can trigger the broken-heart syndrome. Part of your heart becomes enlarged for a time and your heart does not pump as it should. The difference between this and a heart attack is that broken-heart syndrome does not block the arteries so people usually recover after a few months.

Mental health and heart health are linked, so taking care of your mental wellbeing can also promote physical health. Take care of yourself.