Heart Weight & Function

The human heart weighs approximately 300 grams.

✅ Function of the Heart:

The primary function of the heart is to pump blood throughout the entire body. The heart beats approximately 72 times per minute and 100,000 times per day. Each time the heart pumps, it ensures that blood is distributed across the body.

What Is Heart Disease?

Heart disease occurs when fat, cholesterol, and plaque build up in the arteries, causing them to narrow. As this buildup progresses, the blood supply to the heart decreases, leading to potential complications.

Heart disease is currently one of the leading causes of death worldwide. When blood supply to the heart is completely blocked, the heart stops functioning, resulting in a heart attack.

The arteries in the heart are typically 3-4 mm thick.

How Long Does It Take for Heart Blockage to Develop?

Heart blockages develop gradually over many years.

• Blockages do not start forming immediately after birth.
• The process begins around the age of 18-20.
• It takes 30-40 years for blockages to reach 70%, 80%, or 90%.
• Even at 50% blockage, most people do not experience any symptoms because blood can still flow through the remaining open artery.

How Much Blood Supply Does the Heart Require?

The heart requires different levels of blood supply depending on activity levels:

✅ 10% blood supply – When sitting or resting.

✅ 20% blood supply – When walking.

✅ 30% blood supply – When running or engaging in strenuous activity.

When blockages exceed 70%, heart-related symptoms start appearing, causing discomfort and pain.

How to Identify a Heart Blockage?

• Chest pain while running → Blockage exceeds 70%.
• Chest pain while walking → Blockage exceeds 80%.
• Chest pain after walking just 10 steps → Blockage exceeds 90%.

✅ This means that most heart patients do not experience symptoms until blockages exceed 70%.

✅ If chest pain occurs while walking, it is known as "Angina."

After 20 years of age, blockages begin forming at a rate of 2% per year.

Important Note

You have just learned about heart disease in a few minutes, but if you visit a hospital or clinic, they may not explain it in such detail. Instead, they might just tell you that you have "Coronary Artery Disease" (CAD).