The heart is one of the essential organs of your body and is crucial for your survival. The heart's primary function is to pump blood all around your body, but an unhealthy diet or tobacco use can negatively impact this function. There are many facts about your heart that you may not know. Read on for heart health tips and trends.

Fast facts about the heart

1. In an average lifespan, the human heart beats 2.5 billion times which means that your heart may beat 35 million times in a year. 

2. A woman's heart beats about eight times more per minute than a man's heart; this is because a woman's heart is about two-thirds of a man's heart. 

3. A heartbeat lasts for about 0.8 seconds and consists of two cycles.

4. In newborns, the heart beats around 70-190 times per minute, which is much faster than an adult's heart.

5. Your heart begins pumping blood just four weeks after conception and does not stop until you die.

6. An adult human heart is equal to two hands clasped together, while a child's heart is about the size of a clenched fist.

7. The blue whale has the largest heart, and the fairy fly has the smallest heart. 

8. The human heart weighs less than a pound, though men's heart is a couple of ounces heavier.

9. Though the reason is unclear, it has been proven that since 1948, heart diseases have claimed women's lives more than men's. 

10. The sound made by the heart during a heartbeat is known as the "Lub and Dub" sound, caused due the closing of heart valves during a cardiac cycle. 

11. People suffering from heart diseases and heart murmurs may not have the rhythmic Lub and Dub sound, though it has been found that all children have heart murmurs during their childhood. Less than 1% of murmurs are pathological in children.

12. Regular exercise is key to your heart's health. The more you exercise, the lower your chances of developing a sudden heart attack.

13. Chocolate is rich in antioxidants, which play an essential role in decreasing the chances of heart disease and reducing blood pressure. But, moderation is key. 

14. Broken hearts are real. The broken heart syndrome, also known as stress-induced cardiomyopathy, is caused by acute emotional stress and is said to mimic acute myocardial infarction.

15. Laughter is good for your heart, and this is because laughter increases your blood flow and reduces the chances of heart disease.