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Heart health: how well do you know your heart?

katiehinman February 19, 2020

Let’s talk about heart health. How well do you know your heart? This February we are celebrating your life long Valentine- your HEART! Your heart is your number one fan. It sends blood around your body to send you oxygen and helps get rid of all your frienemies like waste out of your body (because your heart knows what’s best!).

1. Your heart beats 100,000 times a day
Your heart does not take time off. It beast for you 35 million times a year and 2.5 billion times in a human lifetime!

2. Laughing is good for your heart
Laughing increases your blood flow which can help protect you against cardiovascular disease.

3. Sneezing does NOT stop your heart…
Yup, that is false. Sneezing temporarily causes an irregular heartbeat but it does not stop.

4. The aorta artery is as big as a garden hose
The aorta artery, one of the largest arteries in your body, is responsible for delivering oxygen from the heart to the rest of your body.

5. A “Broken Heart” is actually a thing
It is called Broken Heart Syndrome and Cleveland Clinic suggests it occurs when one has a stressful experience and extreme emotion like the loss of a loved one, losing a job, hearing bad news, etc. It can feel like a heart attack through chest pain and shortness of breath.

6. Heart Disease is the leading cause of death in the United States
According to the CDC, Heart Disease, for both men and women, is the leading cause of death in the United States. Four common types of heart disease are heart valve disease, heart failure, coronary heart disease, and arrhythmia.

7. You can strengthen your heart muscle
The heart is like any muscle. The more you exercise the more you strengthen it! Aerobic and strength exercises are a great way to work towards a strong and healthy heart. The American Heart Association suggests getting in 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity or 75 minutes per week of vigorous aerobic activity a week.

8. Women’s hearts beat faster than men
Women’s hearts beat about 8 seconds faster than male hearts because their heart is smaller.

9. Sleep is related to heart health
Sleep is your body’s time to slow your heart rate down, rest, and repair itself. The CDC suggests that if you are consistently not getting enough sleep then your heart has to stay at a higher rate longer and can leave you at risk for heart disease or a stroke.

10. Good oral hygiene can promote heart health
Here is just one more reason to dust off the floss…The Mayo Clinic suggests that poor dental health can increase your chance of a bacterial infection in the bloodstream which can increase your chances of heart disease.

A healthy heart starts with healthy habits. The small things you do each day have a huge impact on your overall heart health. Learn more about how Shapa can help you change your habits by sending daily personalized health challenges and track your progress without seeing a number on the scale! 



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