The heart is aorgan located centrally on the chest, behind, and slightly to the left of your breastbone. Our hearts are essential to our survival. Its main purpose is to carry oxygen and nutrients to the various parts of the body and carry out carbon dioxide and other excretory waste to various parts to be expelled. The heart has a blood vessel network that includes veins, arteries, and capillaries to aid its functions. Inside the heart, we have four chambers; right and left atria, right and left ventricle, separated by valves that work harmoniously to ensure blood flows in one direction.
Below are some facts about the heart;
1. The heart never stops
It impresses having the thought that the heart starts to beat about 22 days after conception and ends, well, when you die. Research shows that the heartbeats 3.5 billion times during our lifetime. Our heart does not rest even when we are sleeping. Comparing the heart with other muscles, it works the most. In addition, the rate of heartbeat decreases during sleep.
2. The heart is musical
The heart beats at a rate of 70-72 beats per minute at the position of rest. The sound produced by the heart results from the opening and closing valves. Moreover, the rate of a heartbeat varies with age.
Below is an illustration of each age bracket and its heartbeat rate
| Age | Rate |
| Newborn | 130 bpm |
| 3 months | 140 bpm |
| 6 months | 130 bpm |
| 1 year | 120 bpm |
| 2 years | 115 bpm |
| 3 years | 100 bpm |
| 4 years | 100 bpm |
| 6 years | 100 bpm |
| 8 years | 90 bpm |
Something interesting about the heartbeat is that it changes and mimics the music that you listen to.
3. The size of the heart is almost as that of a fist
The heart weighs between 7 and 15 ounces on average and is about the size of your fist. As you grow, the heart also grows. Despite it appearing to be small in size, the blood vessel system would cover 60,000 miles if stretched out.
4. The heart creates a powerful electromagnetic field
At the upper part of the right atrium, the Sinoatrial node creates an electric impulse that drives the heart. Furthermore, the pacemaker cells also produce an electric impulse in the heart and keep the heart in momentum. However, these pacemaker cells saturate the heart.
5. The heart pumps 2,000 gallons of blood per day
The human heart pumps 2,000 gallons of blood each day through a 60,000 miles extensive network of vessels- arteries, arterioles, capillaries, venules, and veins.
6. The heart supplies blood to 75 trillion cells in the body
Our hearts supply blood to every part of the body except for the corneas. 75 trillion cells get blood from the heart. Astonishing, isn’t it!
7. The weight of a man’s heart varies from that of a woman
The weight of the human heart is less than one pound. A man’s heart is two ounces heavier than a woman’s heart, and a woman’s heart beats slightly faster than a man’s.
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