In honor of Heart Health Month and Valentine’s Day, we are going to share some Matters of the Heart for all our followers to consider. Let’s begin with some fun facts about the heart:

• The average heart is the size of a fist in an adult.

• Your heart will beat about 115,000 times each day.

• Your heart pumps about 2,000 gallons of blood every day.

• An electrical system controls the rhythm of your heart. It’s called the cardiac conduction system.

• The beating sound of your heart is caused by the valves of the heart opening and closing.

• Most heart attacks happen on a Monday 

• Christmas Day is the most common day of the year for heart attacks to happen.

• The human heart weighs less than 1 pound. However, a man’s heart, on average, is 2 ounces heavier than a woman’s heart.

• A woman’s heart beats slightly faster than a man’s heart.

• It’s possible to have a broken heart. It’s called broken heart syndrome and can have similar symptoms as a heart attack. The difference is that a heart attack is from heart disease and broken heart syndrome is caused by a rush of stress hormones from an emotional or physical stress event.

• The iconic heart shape as a symbol of love is traditionally thought to come from the silphium plant, which was used as an ancient form of birth control.

• If you were to stretch out your blood vessel system, it would extend over 60,000 miles.

• Heart cells stop dividing, which means heart cancer is extremely rare.

• Laughing is good for your heart. It reduces stress and gives a boost to your immune system.

Being physically inactive at the lowest level puts you at a higher heart disease risk than smoking.

On a more serious note, heart disease is the leading cause of death worldwide, making it responsible for more deaths than any other health condition, and accounting for one in four deaths in the United States. In 2021, about 695,000 people in the USA died from heart disease. This is about one death every 33 seconds in the United States from cardiovascular disease. According to a 2018 statistic, heart disease costs the United States about $239.9 billion each year. This includes the cost of health care services, medicines, and lost productivity due to death.

Risk factors for heart disease are largely preventable. The major risk factors for heart disease include smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, and lack of physical activity. These risk factors can often be controlled through lifestyle changes.

Here are a few ways to prevent cardiovascular disease:

Proper diet and nutrition are extremely important: Eating a diet that is high in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein can help reduce the risk of heart disease. It is also important to limit foods that are high in salt, sugar, and saturated fat.

Only about 40 percent of people are getting enough activity to meet CDC guidelines.

Physical activity is crucial for heart health: Regular physical activity, such as brisk walking, can help reduce the risk of heart disease by improving blood circulation, strengthening the heart muscle, and reducing stress.

Stress can negatively impact heart health: Chronic stress can increase the risk of heart disease by contributing to high blood pressure and unhealthy lifestyle habits. It is important to find healthy ways to manage stress, such as through exercise, mindfulness, or counseling.

Early detection and treatment of heart disease can save lives.

Here are the symptoms of heart disease:

• Chest pain

• Shortness of breath

• Palpitations

• Coughing or Wheezing

• Swelling in the Legs, Ankles, or Feet

• Poor Blood Supply to Extremities

• Fatigue

All symptoms should be taken seriously and prompt a visit to the doctor for evaluation. Early detection and treatment can improve outcomes and even save lives. 

Women & Heart Disease

Heart Disease in women may display different symptoms than in men. Although some women have no symptoms, others may have:

• Angina—usually felt as a dull or heavy chest discomfort or ache.

• Pain in the neck, jaw, or throat

• Pain in the upper abdomen or back

These symptoms may happen when you’re resting or active. Women also may have other symptoms, including:

• Nausea

• Vomiting

• Tiredness that won’t go away or feels excessive

Sources: CDC.gov; Healthline.com; NIH.gov