Your life depends on this incredible organ doing its job 24/7
As you go through your day, you probably don’t spend much time thinking about your heart and all that it’s doing. But let’s take a few moments to appreciate this life-sustaining organ in your chest.
Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy
Your heart starts beating well before you’re born and continues its rhythmic work until the day you die. That’s just the start (and end) of its amazing story, though.
Here are a few more heart-related facts, courtesy of cardiologist Brian Griffin, MD.
Learn more about our editorial process.
A resting heart rate below 35–40 beats per minute or over 100 beats per minute may be cause for concern
Resolve to move a little more, drink a little less, eat a little healthier, sleep a little better and destress a lot
The emotional toll of loss and other strong emotions can have life-threatening physical effects
Unlock the secret of your body’s hardest-working organ
Coughing away a heart attack could delay medical help
First things first — slowly sit or lie down
Absolutely! In fact, in many ways, exercise is key to recovery
There’s no way to stop it once a heart attack is happening, but the most important thing you can do is to call for help
Your metabolism may torch 1,300 to 2,000 calories daily with no activity
A gentle touch in all the right places may help drain your sinuses