The heart is amongst the most vital organs of our body, and that makes World Heart Day an important event across the globe. World Heart Day is celebrated on October 29 every year. The global burden of heart ailments needs attention because the statistics are startling. More and more young people are succumbing to heart issues and other CVDs that were earlier more prevalent amongst the elderly. Heart diseases top the list of worldwide death causes (non-communicable) for both men and women of all races. Here in India, a spike has been seen in the prevalence of heart disease and stroke of a whopping 50 percent from 1990 to 2016. Even worse an increase is witnessed in every state of India individually, as per a survey. World Heart Day 2019 Date and Theme: Significance of the Day Dedicated to Spreading Awareness About Cardiovascular Diseases. 

There exists a lack of awareness about the essential organ- HEART. We all know it is required for most of the bodily functions but did you know it is one of the most interesting organs as well? Here are some facts that you must take a look at:

Did You Know Your Heart Keeps Beating Even After You Are Dead?

Yes. Your heart doesn't stop working immediately after you are dead and it can go on for for a long time after you are dead.  The heart's own electrical system that causes it to beat and pump blood. Because of this, the heart can continue to beat for a short time after brain death, or after being removed from the body. The heart will keep beating as long as it has oxygen. Your heart is a busy organ.

Your Sex Life Can Tell a Lot About Your Heart Health

A study says that men who had sex at least twice a week were half as likely to die of heart disease as men who had sex. But did you know that your sex life can also tell that you have a weak heart? About 57 percent of men who had bypass surgery and 64 percent of men hospitalised for heart attacks had ED at least at one point in their lives. Know more about the penis and heart connection- what your sex life says about your cardiovascular health.

The Heart Is a Muscle But it Never Gets Tired!

Your heart is a muscle, but unlike your bicep, which is a skeletal muscle, your heart is a cardiac muscle and resists fatigue. The reason is that it has more mitochondria(powerhouse) than skeletal muscle. Your heart doesn't need a break to rejuvenate and keeps supplying blood to your body.

Your Heart Breaks Literally When You Are Sad

Did you know that stress from grief can break your heart literally because it makes you experience a broken heart syndrome? You must have experienced a heavy heart and painful feeling when you are sad, and it is because it causes your body to undergo chemical changes that spike the cortisol level. Not only does it increase the likelihood of a heart attack, but it damages your heart muscles.

Your Heart Stops Momentarily When You Sneeze

There's a reason, traditionally, people say "Bless you" when you sneeze. This is because your heart stops to beat for a while when you sneeze. Well, not precisely stop functioning, but when you sneeze, the intrathoracic(within the thorax) pressure in your body increases momentarily. This, in turn, decreases the blood flow back to the heart and your heartbeat momentarily adjusts itself, but it doesn't stop. The electrical activity of the heart, however, does not stop during the sneeze.

Well, there you go with all the interesting heart facts, BUT heart ailments are real. You must always watch out for the simplest of symptoms related to your heart. Common heart attack signs, such as chest pain or discomfort, or sudden pain in the upper body, arms, back, neck, jaw or upper stomach pain. Shortness of breath, nausea, lightheadedness, or cold sweats are also some of the other symptoms that indicate trouble in your heart.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 25, 2019 01:58 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).