Heart models from 3B Scientific on International World Heart Day 2012

Hamburg/Germany, September 2012 - 3B Scientific is offering discounts for selected heart models on the occasion of World Heart Day on 29 September 2012. As the world market’s leader for anatomical teaching aids the international 3B Scientific group of companies has committed itself to the continuous advancement of education and training in medicine and natural sciences. To learn hands-on means to understand.

Every year, more than 17 million people die from the consequences of cardiovascular diseases worldwide according to the World Heart Federation. A sad record, which makes them the leading cause of death; but at the same time a good reason to take part in International World Heart Day, first introduced 12 years ago, to create risk awareness and provide tips on how to avoid cardiovascular disease.

To mark the occasion, 3B Scientific is granting a 20% discount on a large number of models. The discount code, valid on 29 September 2012, will be issued to all subscribers to the online newsletter; and it is possible to sign up until that date.

The extremely detailed 3B Scientific^® models are ideal for both school and university training, as well as for patient instruction in physician’s and therapist’s offices. Concealed anatomical structures of the human body are revealed and can be grasped in the literal sense of the word. Kai Siebert, Product Manager Medical at 3B Scientific, advises, “Take good care of your heart, just as we do with our model hearts, because in a high-performance organ, every detail counts.”

The heart is one of the organs even non-professionals show particular interest in. A person’s heart is approximately the same size their closed fist, but can be larger in individuals who suffer from heart disease or do excessive sports. Depending on age and personal fitness this high-performance organ beats around 100,000 times per day and pumps up to 20 liters of blood through the body during exertion; endurance athletes can even have a cardiac output of up to 35 liters per minute.

The main risk factor for heart attacks and strokes is an unhealthy and therefore harmful lifestyle. An unbalanced diet combined with a lack of exercise and the resulting effect of overweight, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol levels, smoking and heavy alcohol consumption are estimated to account for the majority of all fatal cardiovascular diseases in industrial nations. A substantial number of these millions of deaths could be prevented.

For this reason, organizations such as Herzstiftung (Germany), National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (USA) and the World Heart Federation recommend regular workouts and a balanced diet. If you cannot bring yourself to go jogging or swimming, take a brisk half-hour walk five times per week and drive down stress levels at the same time. Contrary to all preconceptions, there is no need for an austere diet if a few rules are observed. Fresh fruit and vegetables should be part of the diet every day, just as fiber-rich products, vegetable fats, fish, herbs and spices.

Moreover, smoking in particular is considered one of the major avoidable causes of heart attacks and strokes. The risk of cardiovascular disease is twice as high in smokers as in non-smokers. According to the German Cancer Research Centre, stopping smoking not only reduces the risk of various cancer diseases but can also bring down pulse and blood pressure to normal levels after a short time. What is more, smokers expose not only themselves to risks but also the people around them. Passive smokers are exposed to the same harmful substances and therefore have a significantly increased risk of cardiovascular diseases and strokes.

Combined with a low-fat diet, sufficient exercise and strict abstinence from tobacco, regular medical checkups are an important factor for a healthy heart. Blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol levels can reveal risks that otherwise may remain undetected for years.