The heart is an amazing piece of engineering. I read about some incredible facts about the heart.
If you turned on your kitchen faucet all the way and left it run for 45 years, it would equal the amount of blood pumped during an average lifespan (men 77 years and women 81).
The healthy heart pumps 2,000 gallons of blood through 60,000 miles of blood vessels each and every day.
With proper exercise, collateral blood vessels develop to help feed the heart. In the event of a blocked coronary artery, the heart attack will be much less severe, and mortality rates much lower. Exercise also helps improve the heart’s efficiency, meaning it doesn’t have to work as hard at rest or during work episodes. Regular physical activity also increases the amount of blood pumped with each beat, and helps your lungs deliver oxygen more efficiently to your blood, resulting in more oxygen delivered to your muscles and organs during exercise. All of these changes
With age, as with all of the organs, the heart’s capabilities typically diminish. But, with the proper choices, the rate of decline can be slowed significantly. Choosing to live a sedentary life carries big risks to heart and blood vessel health. Conversely, physical activity, avoiding tobacco, eating a healthy diet and maintaining a healthy weight-go a long way towards slowing the aging process. How do you want to spend the rest of your life?
Stay well, John R Blilie, M.S.