TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (WIAT) - When Burmese pythons are digesting their prey, their hearts can actually grow up to 40 percent. Researchers have found that there are certain fatty acids in the python's blood that are at least particularly responsible for growth.  University of Alabama Biology Professor and researcher Dr. Stephen Secor says the growth of the snake's heart is similar to that of a human athlete.  This type of growth is considered to be healthy, while other enlarged human hearts may be diseased and unhealthy.

Researchers believe it might be possible that these findings could eventually lead to future treatments in humans with congestive heart failure.  When tested on rodents, the combination of fatty acids found in python blood had similar results on the mammal heart.