The heart is one of the essential components of human life. It was once also believed to be the center from where love and other emotions emanated. Many feel a heart can break and that it can know no bounds of love. Dr. Seuss’ “The Grinch” was said to be nasty because his heart was “two sizes too small.”

Not only does today mark Valentine’s Day, a holiday synonymous with the loving symbol, but February is also American Heart Month as designated by the Center for Disease Control. Although there is mystery surrounding matters of the heart, there is much known about the physical makeup of the human heart. Here are seven facts about the human heart.

1. Heart attacks and heart disease may be viewed as an illness that primarly affects men. However, this couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact, women have more cases of heart-related illnesses than men, and heart disease kills 500,000 American women, which is 50,000 more women than men.