Changes in the heart of winter Grizzly Bears

Grizzly bears are inactive for 5-6 months every winter. During this time, their heart rate slows from 84 beats per minute to around 19. If this happened in a human heart it could lead to congestive heart failure, but a bear’s heart goes through a complex series of changes that prevent complications. Studying how a bear’s heart changes can be helpful in understanding human heart disease. Read more at U.S. News Science