HeartThe human heart weighs about 7-15 ounces and it is like the shape and size of an average fist.
Your heart is the most important organ in your body as it is muscular and responsible for pumping blood into your lungs in order for the oxygen to be picked up and the carbon dioxide released. The heart normally starts beating 21 days after conception, and is usually at 15 – 80 beats per minute. The heart rate then increases to 10 beats per minute every three days for the first month. An adult’s heart rate, if healthy, is at about 75 beats per minute and at that, pumping about 2,000 gallons of blood.
Your heart is located underneath your breastbone on left side of your thorax. Cardiac muscle is what makes up your heart. It takes up more space on the left hemithorax, which means that your left lung is slightly smaller than right lung. One of the most fatal diseases is heart disease and is actually the number one leading cause of death in the U.S.
There are many different types of heart disease, not just one; a few of these include Hypertensive heart disease, Valvular heart disease, acute myocardial infraction, Coronary heart disease, cardiovascular heart disease, Ischemic heart disease and more.
When the heart is damaged and cannot pump blood, it is a condition called congestive heart failure. This is a serious illness and has to be treated, although, sometimes the illness can go undiagnosed.
If you have had a heart attack before or you have a past history of it in your family you should be very wary, here are a few of the heart attack symptoms are:
Discomfort in the upper body
Any pains or aches in your upper body can mean you are in danger of a heart attack and you need to call a doctor. The pains will be in your arms, neck, jaw, stomach or back.
Discomfort in your chest
Experiencing any type of pains in your chest can mean danger.
The pains might be sharp and quick, or they can last for a few seconds, go away and come back. It might feel like someone is pushing down on your chest, causing pain and making it difficult for you to breathe.
Shortness of breathe
If you are having difficulty breathing or your breaths are very short, it could be a warning.
The shortness of breathe can be accompanied by chest pains, but this will not always be.
A few other signs might be vomiting, nausea, lightheadedness, dizziness and other related symptoms. If you have experienced any of these symptoms, go to your doctor for a check up.
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