5 Ways to Love Your Heart

February is heart month and today is Valentine’s a perfect day to show your heart some love.

We don’t think about our heart all the time, but it is pretty incredible. Here are some fun facts about your heart.

Five facts about your heart

1. Your heart beats about 100,000 times a day.
2. The heart pumps blood through 100,000 KM of blood vessels.
3. Every cell, all 30-40 trillion of them, receive blood except your corneas.
4. Clasp your hands together and that is the size of your heart.
5. Heart disease, is the number one killer in North America. It has been around for a long time, showing up in the remains 3,000 year old mummies.

Five weird facts about medicine and your heart

1. The first pacemakers were plugged into a wall socket. Now remote monitoring is possible.
2. The stethoscope was invented so that doctors didn’t have to put their ear on a patient’s chest.
3. Cobalt was once added to beer, to stabilize the foam. Until beer drinkers were showing high levels heart damage from cobalt.
4. Your heart has it’s own electrical system and can beat outside of your body.
5. The first pacemaker was implanted in 1958. Arne Larsson, the man who recieved it lived to 86. He outlasted his surgeon and his death was due to cancer not heart disease.

Five Ways to Show Your Heart Some Love

1. Don’t drink. There is no heart benefits to alcohol.
2. Eat dark chocolate. It can improve blood flow, reduce blood pressure and is a good source of antioxidants.
3. Run for your heart. Runners have a 45% reduced risk of heart disease and stroke. Even if you don’t run, exercise is one of the best ways to keep your heart healthy.
4. Eat one extra fruit or vegetable a day. They are high in soluble fiber which is great for reducing cholesterol. They can also replace high sugar snacks which are not heart healthy.
5. Take a deep breathe. Meditation and deep breathing can reduce high blood pressure.

There are more ways to keep your heart healthy including these three.

There is more good news! What is good for your heart ❤️ is good for your brain 🧠 too!

Change your mind, change your health,

Shayla