Keep your heart in mind this month-and every month

February is American Heart Month and to kickstart your cardiovascular health, here are some astounding facts about the human heart.

• The human heart pumps blood through the 60,000 miles of blood vessels in the body. By comparison, the distance around the Earth at the equator is about 24,901 miles.
• Your heart beats approximately 100,000 times per day. That's about 5 times the number of breaths you take every day.
• Each heartbeat pumps about 4 tablespoons of blood which amounts to around 1.5 gallons per minute.
• Every day your heart pumps about 2,000 gallons of blood.
• The heart has its own electrical supply and will continue to beat when separated from the body.

Now for a few more sobering facts:

• Heart disease causes an average of one death every 36 seconds in the U.S.
• Every year, about 805,000 people in the U.S. have a heart attack. In the U.S., someone has a heart attack every 40 seconds.
• Coronary heart disease is the most common type of heart disease, killing 360,900 people in 2019.
• High blood pressure, or hypertension, was a primary or contributing cause of death for 516,955 people in the U.S. in 2019.
• Nearly half of adults in the U.S. have hypertension, and only about 1-in-4 adults (24%) with hypertension have their condition under control.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, heart disease is the leading cause of death for men, women, and people of most racial and ethnic groups in the United States.

High blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, and smoking are key risk factors for heart disease. Several other medical conditions and lifestyle choices can also put people at a higher risk for heart disease, including diabetes, obesity, an unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, and excessive alcohol consumption.

Stress is another factor that plays into heart health. Stress may contribute to poor health behaviors or choices and chronic stress can cause high blood pressure. Additionally, stress is often associated with negative mental health which can also lead to an increased risk of heart disease and stroke.

According to a recent presidential proclamation, the goal of American Heart Month is to raise awareness of the risks of heart disease, remember those we have lost and highlight steps we can all take to save the lives of countless loved ones.

Eating a healthy diet, getting regular exercise, and avoiding or stopping smoking are the most commonly prescribed preventative measures for heart health. Maintaining a healthy weight and monitoring your cholesterol are two other well-known recommendations for overall cardiovascular health.

But here are a few lesser-known things you can do to help your heart out. Always talk with your doctor or other medical care providers if you have any questions or concerns about your heart health.

Get a pet. According to the American Heart Association, being around animals can help you get more exercise, lower blood pressure and cholesterol, cut stress and boost happiness. If your life circumstances aren't conducive to having a pet, consider volunteering at a non-profit that works with animals so you can take advantage of their heart-boosting benefits.

Volunteering, more generally, can also help with your heart health. According to a national Health and Retirement Study launched in 1992, researchers found that people who volunteered regularly (at least 200 hours a year) were less likely to develop high blood pressure over a four-year period than non-volunteers. Volunteers also had greater increases in psychological well-being and physical activity.

Speaking of psychological well-being, according to one scientific review and analysis, an optimistic mindset is associated with lower cardiovascular risk. Another study shows that people with optimistic outlooks are likely to have better health habits which in turn lead to better heart health.

Going hand-in-hand with a positive outlook, laughter is another way to boost your overall cardiovascular health. According to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, a good laugh can lower blood pressure, reduce stress hormone levels, improve the function of blood vessels and increase blood flow. Turns out the old saying is pretty spot on - laughter really is the best medicine.

Listening to music is another way to help reduce stress and improve heart health. Clinical studies have shown that music has beneficial effects in the reduction of blood pressure in a variety of health care settings such as the ICU. You can take advantage of the calming effects with some at-home music therapy of your own-opt for relaxing music. 30-minutes of focused listening may help lower blood pressure, slow your heart rate, and reduce anxiety.

Getting outside has also been proven to reduce stress and improve mental health, which can take a load off your heart. Plus, if you can find activities that you love, you can kill the proverbial two birds with one stone by exercising more and being out in nature.

This February set aside some time to take care of your heart. Establishing healthy habits now can make all the difference for your future.