Most people only focus on helping the heart when diseased or malfunctioning. Then you go to a doctor needing an intervention, such as coronary artery disease, congestive heart disease, heart arrhythmias, or heart valve disorders.

There is another side of the heart that is exciting and worth learning more about. The heart is the subject of emotion and mythology that is talked about the most. Knowing that the heart is feeling good can positively impact the rest of the body.

The heart is the body's third brain. It has its intrinsic neurons just like the brain in your head, just not as many (40 thousand vs.100 billion). This allows the heart to adapt by receiving, processing, storing, and transmitting information. The GUT is the only other organ with a brain (100 million intrinsic neurons). The heart can learn to make specific actions more instinctive through repetitious input.

The heart can also communicate via the nervous system and hormones through its pumping action and electro-magnetically. It communicates with the head brain significantly more than the heart receives signals from the head. Do you know that the heart can produce oxytocin or stimulate the head brain to make this "love hormone"?

What does this all mean? The heart can learn input that provides these feelings………. heartfelt, heartbroken, heartless, heartwarming, from the heart, heartache, along with gratitude, compassion, and love. Feelings from the heart can have a better memory and be felt more than from other organs.

To reinforce the impact of the heart, the heart has an electromagnetic force that projects significantly more than the head's brain. That energy is 500 times more powerful, and with synchronicity (two hearts that beat as one) of the recipient, it can produce feelings of mutual emotions such as love, passion, or contentment. It can receive and project energy that impacts those around you. If the recipient is not open to receiving that energy, synchronicity is lost, and that feeling may become irritable and emotionally pull you down.

What if you have lost that heartfelt feeling? Science is developing around how to make the heart healthier. There are six areas to consider and understand.

• Diet is essential for optimizing heart flow and pumping strength. Fresh, whole, organic food is a medicine that can allow the heart to function optimally with the proper nutrients.

• Exercise strengthens the heart with every beat and allows more blood to be pumped with a similar effort.  Exercise also helps the heart's brain to stimulate the central brain to produce more happy and motivating hormones.

• Genetics may work in your favor or compromise the heart, such as lipid disorders, arrhythmias, aneurysms, or cardiomyopathies affecting heart tissue.

• Stress can be a factor in heart health. Stress is the fight or flight activator that is protective to move away from harm. If you compare it to the controls on a car, it is like running a car at an excessively high speed. It is acceptable for a short period but wears the vehicle down faster if done routinely. Chronic stress can lead to disease and premature aging. Stress to the heart can lead to sustained increased heart rate, hypertension, and arrhythmias.

By being more aware of your heart, you can significantly impact it, increasing your physical and emotional well-being. New technology is now available on smartwatches that allow you to measure HEART RATE VARIABILITY (HRV). You are bringing your heart and nervous system in balance. Not only does this help you understand your heart health, but it brings you to better emotional wellness.

Breathing techniques can help you slow and relax your heart. This can improve your HRV score.

• Controlled breathing can be accomplished by breathing in through your nose and out through your mouth

  • Make the effort 3 times daily – ideally upon waking, lunch, and bedtime.

  • Take 6 breaths – five seconds in and five seconds breathing out

  • Do this exercise for 5 minutes to help give you a 5-hour duration of effect

• Alternate Nostril technique uses the same 3-6-5 timing but alternate nostrils to breathe in.

• Breathing in through your nostrils releases a dilator, allowing better oxygen absorption in the lungs. When exhaling, purse your lips like breathing out through a straw to help slow the breath.

Mindfulness is another way to balance your heart and brain. This practice allows you to be fully present at the moment, inserting nonjudgmental thoughts and emotions. It uses meditation and deep breathing. Yoga and tai chi are exercises that focus on mindfulness.

Heartfelt energy from others can impact you from touch such as Hugging, Holding, and a Handshake. How much have we lost in recent years with the threat of Covid?

What about Heartfelt Words that we hear or project showing Gratitude, Generosity, and Genuineness?

Grounding (Earthing) is another way to bring HRV balance to your heart. It has been shown that the earth's energy can be transferred to people by walking outdoors on the ground, in sand, or water. That energy impacts the heart's function and improves circulation.