Anatomy of a Heartbeat
Learn what happens during each heartbeat.
Your heart is a strong, muscular organ that is always working to pump blood through your body.
According to the American Heart Association, each day your heart beats an average of 100,000 times and pumps about 2,000 gallons of blood. That means that if you live 70 years, your heart will beat more than 2.5 billion times.
Are You at Risk for a Heart Attack?
Learn about the risk factors for heart attack.
You don’t want your first sign of heart disease to be a heart attack. That’s why it’s so important to know what your risk may be for coronary artery disease (CAD)—the leading cause of death in this country for both men and women. In CAD, the arteries that supply your heart with oxygen-rich blood can become dangerously narrowed by fatty deposits. If a blood clot forms in one of these narrowed arteries, a heart attack can occur. Years of research show that several risk factors increase the risk of CAD. The more risk factors you have, the greater your risk of having a heart attack. Some of these risk factors are beyond your control. But importantly, most can be changed to lower your risk of having a first—or even repeat—heart attack.
Learn Your Target Heart Rate
Staying within your target heart rate can help you safely get the benefits of exercise.
If you're trying to increase your fitness level, aerobic exercise is just the ticket. In addition to strengthening your heart and lungs, aerobic exercise can help control cholesterol levels, diabetes and obesity. In some cases, it can also help lower blood pressure, says the American Heart Association. If you aren't used to exercising or if you have any health concerns, talk to a doctor before you start an exercise program. Your doctor can help you choose a program that is safe and effective for you.
Count Your Heartbeats and Breaths
Your heart and lungs work around the clock to keep oxygen levels up.
From your head to your toes, your smallest cell to your largest organ, every part of your body counts on the nonstop work of your heart and lungs. These two organs ensure a continuous flow of oxygen-rich blood through a system of blood vessels about 60,000 miles long.
With every breath, your lungs draw in more life-sustaining oxygen. With every beat, your heart sends blood surging out into your lungs to collect this oxygen and out into your body to nourish cells, organs and tissues. |
