5 facts about your heart that may surprise you  

Edward-Elmhurst Health shared in their Healthy Driven blog that pumping more than 100,000 times a day, your heart is the hardest working muscle you have.

Though not the largest — it’s the size of your two fists clasped together — it is a workhorse, pumping about 1.5 gallons of blood each minute. With each beat, your heart sends oxygen-rich blood throughout your body.

Heart disease, however, remains a leading cause of death. On average, cardiovascular disease claims one life every 37 seconds in the United States.

That’s why it’s important to know how your heart works and what you can do to keep it healthy.

Here are five facts about your heart that might surprise you:

• An inactive lifestyle puts you at higher risk for heart disease than if you smoked. Regular exercise is important to keep your heart in good health. The American Heart Association recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate level intensity exercise each week.

To see the other 4 facts, click here.