What do you know about the human heart? One of the most important organs of the body, isn't it? That's right. So important, if the heart stops pumping blood throughout the body, a person loses his life.

The heart is one of the most vital organs in the human body. In addition to functioning as a pump that flows blood throughout the body, there are many other interesting facts about the heart that may not be widely known. What are these facts? Let's discuss it further!

Here are some amazing facts about the heart that you may not know:

1. The heart beats 100,000 times a day.¹

- The average human heart beats between 60 and 100 times per minute. In a day, the heart can beat up to 100,000 times. During sleep, the heart rate can slow down to below 60 times per minute due to the body's decreased metabolism.

- Women's hearts tend to beat faster than men's. The average heart rate of women is about 78 beats per minute, while that of men is about 70 beats per minute

2. Heart Size and Weight.¹

The human heart has a size roughly the size of the owner's fist. The average weight of a man's heart is around 280-340 grams, while a woman's heart is about 230-280 grams.

3. Heart as a Giant Pump.²

The heart pumps about 5 liters of blood every minute, which means about 7,000 liters of blood every day. This blood flows through a system of blood vessels that are about 96,000 km long. The only part of the body that does not receive a direct blood supply is the cornea of the eye.

4. Heart Sounds.¹

Heart Rate Sounds: The sound of the heart rate comes from the closure of the heart valves as well as the strong flow of blood at a rapid filling in the ventricles (chambers of the heart).

5. Cardiac autonomy .¹

Cardiac Autonomy: Because the heart works autonomously, not dictated by the brain, the heart can still beat on its own for a few minutes even though it is separated from the body.

6. Risk of heart disease.³

- Daily Activity: The risk of developing heart disease is 2 times higher in people who rarely move or exercise, than those who are more active.

- Heart Attack Symptoms: The symptoms of a female heart attack are different from those in men. Women generally experience shortness of breath, dizziness, feeling like they are going to faint or even faint, pain in the lower chest or upper abdomen, and back pain. Meanwhile, men generally experience chest pain, sweating, and nausea.

-These differences in symptoms are due to several factors, including anatomical and hormonal differences between men and women. Research shows that women are more likely to have blockages in the small arteries that supply blood to the heart (called microvascular coronary artery disease), while men are more likely to have blockages in large arteries. This can lead to variations in perceived symptoms. ⁷

7. Heart attacks are more common during the day.³

- A study published in Heart Rhythm (2019) found that of the 2,631 heart attack cases studied, heart attacks were more common during the day (31.6%). In addition, heart attacks also often occur in the afternoon and evening (26.9%), morning (27.6%), and early morning (13.9%).

- The study also updates previous findings showing that heart attacks often occur in the early morning, especially when levels of the hormone cortisol are elevated

8. Laughter is good for the heart.⁴

When you laugh, the body releases endorphins. This compound stimulates blood vessels to release nitric oxide, which makes it relax and dilate, Therefore, laughing can increase blood flow throughout your body.

9. Sex lowers the risk of heart attack.⁵

- Men who regularly have sex twice a week and women who have a satisfying sex life have a lower risk of heart attack. The benefits of sex for heart health are similar to exercise.

- This activity helps control blood pressure, reduce stress, and improve sleep quality. In addition, difficulties in having sex can also be a sign of heart problems. Erectile dysfunction or impotence is often associated as an early symptom of a heart attack in men.

10. Heart disease can affect anyone.⁶

Another fact about the heart is that heart disease is the biggest cause of death for both men and women. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that coronary heart disease was the leading cause of death worldwide in 2019. Therefore, it is important to adopt a healthy lifestyle, such as not smoking, exercising regularly, and eating a healthy diet.

The heart is an amazing organ with a variety of functions and amazing facts. By understanding the heart better, we can maintain heart health and reduce the risk of developing heart disease. Don't forget to always maintain a healthy lifestyle and appreciate the blessings of the heart that we have.

Reference:

1. Sikorcin, Abby, MPAS, PA-C. What is a Dangerous Heart Rate?. healthline. Terakhir ditinjau 22 Januari, 2024. Tersedia di: https://www.healthline.com/health/dangerous-heart-rate

2. Siloam Medical Team. This is the function of the heart and its important parts. Siloamhospitals. Last reviewed August 29, 2024. Available at: https://www.siloamhospitals.com/informasi-siloam/artikel/fungsi-jantung

3. Heart Attack: Men vs. Women. theheartfoundation. Terakhir ditinjau 29 Maret , 2017. Tersedia di: https://theheartfoundation.org/2017/03/29/heart-attack-men-vs-women/

4. Ellis, Ralph. Laughter Really Is Good for the Heart, Study Finds. webmd. Terakhir ditinjau 28 Agustus , 2023. Tersedia di: https://www.webmd.com/heart/news/20230828/laughter-really-is-good-for-the-heart-study-finds

5. Escadio, dkk. Resuming sexual activity soon after heart attack linked with improved survival. Terakhir ditinjau 23 September , 2022. Tersedia di: https://www.escardio.org/The-ESC/Press-Office/Press-releases/Resuming-sexual-activity-soon-after-heart-attack-linked-with-improved-survival

6. Cdc, dkk. About Women and Heart Disease. Cdc.gov. Terakhir ditinjau September , 2024. Tersedia di: https://www.cdc.gov/heart-disease/about/women-and-heart-disease.html

7. CardiaCare, et al. Heart Attack Symptoms in Women Different from Men? Recognize the signs!. caardiacare. Last reviewed in September, 2024. Available at: https://cardiacare.id/gejala-serangan-jantung-pada-wanita-berbeda-dengan-pria-kenali-tanda-tandanya/