Cockroaches Do Not Have Heart Attacks

Cockroaches do not die of a heart attack. According to Discovery for Kids, cockroaches’ heart is simply a tube with valves that recycles blood back and forth. This simple mechanism may fail, but cockroaches’ heart will continue pumping blood in a staged fashion. That way, pressure does not build up inside the heart, and the cockroach won’t die.

The discovery that cockroaches’ memory is strongly influenced by the circadian clock has opened up new insights into the molecular basis of biological clocks. Invertebrates (animals without a backbone) have also been studied extensively to learn about how the time of day affects memory. In addition to cockroaches, other animals such as fruit flies and sea slugs have shown how learning and memory are influenced by the time of day.

Cockroaches are also known to carry microbes that can cause serious infections in humans. Several kinds of bacteria have been linked to cockroaches, including Staphylococcus aureus, which can cause boils in humans. The infection can lead to more serious complications, including infections of the heart or lungs.

Cockroaches carry salmonella, a type of bacteria that can cause gastroenteritis, dysentery, and Typhoid fever. This pathogen is transmitted through the roach’s feces and can make humans sick. These insects also carry E. coli, which can cause food poisoning.