Nourishing your circulatory system
The circulatory system is made up of a collection of vessels
and organs that distributes life-giving fluids throughout the body. These
fluids deliver nutrients to the tissues of your body, giving each solve the
energy it needs to survive and thrive. The circulatory system can be divided
into two parts: the lymphatic system and the cardiovascular system.
The lymphatic system produces and nourishes blood cells. It
also plays a huge role in the immune functioning.
The cardiovascular system refers to the complicated network
of veins and arteries that carry heart pumps blood through the body. The heart
serves as the hub of this network, and each heartbeat transports blood to
nearly every part of your body. The heart supplies your organs with oxygen,
nutrients and chemicals they need to carryout their unique functions. This
intricate system requires constant motion, and because every other organ system
in the body depends so heavily on the blood, any interruption in the blood
pumping process can have dangerous consequences.
The circulatory system can be divided into the lymphatic and
cardiovascular systems. The lymphatic system consists of lymph fluid, lymphatic
vessels, the lymph nodes, the tonsils and the spleen. The cardiovascular system
is made up of the blood, heart, arteries, and veins.
Did you know?
If you lined all the branches of the average person’s blood
vessels in a straight line they would total over 60,000 miles. That’s 2 ½ times
the circumference of the earth.
Cardiovascular risk factors
Cardiovascular disorders are the most widespread health
issues in America. From heart disease to blood clots, clogged arteries to your
regular palpitations, dangerous heart and blood vessel problems hospitalize and
kill millions each year. While some of these problems are present from birth,
most result from unhealthy lifestyle choices. Smoking, inactivity, and poor
diet are known to contribute to a variety of cardiovascular problems.
Smoking raises blood pressure, narrows the blood vessels,
and increases the likelihood of developing dangerous blood clots. Lack of
exercise fails to raise the heart rate slowing the rate at which blood
circulates through the organs. This leads to fatigue, weakened heart muscles,
and high blood pressure.
Unhealthy eating habits pose a huge risk to cardiovascular
health. Eating a diet low in nutrients and high in sugar, salt, cholesterol,
and fat, can trigger the buildup of bad cholesterol in our arteries. This
cholesterol hardens into plaque that lines the blood vessels, leaving less room
to blood flow through and increasing blood pressure. Arteries can become
completely blocked with plaque – a condition that leads directly to heart
attack.
According to the American Heart Association data collected
in 2008.
- Over 780,000 people die from heart disease each year in America
- Coronary heart disease causes one out of every six deaths in the United States.
- On average, someone will die from heart disease every 39 seconds, someone will suffer a stroke every 40 seconds.
- Over 76 million people, or one in three adults over the age of 20, have high blood pressure.
- Heart disease and stroke cost patients over $173 billion annually.
Did you know?
The average heartbeats 100,000 times each day to pump
roughly 2000 gallons of blood through the body.
Preventing cardiovascular problems
While age and genetics factor into a person’s risk of
developing cardiovascular disease, eating a diet rich in nutrients can fight
the buildup of harmful plaque and can even reverse existing cardiovascular
damage. Abstaining from tobacco products, getting plenty of exercise, and
perhaps most importantly, eating a healthful, nutrient dense diet can help to
prevent future heart troubles and reverse problems like high cholesterol and
high blood pressure that can lead to heart attacks, heart failure, and stroke.
Did you know?
Women’s hearts tend to be faster than men’s – a woman
averages 78 bpm while a man averages 70 bpm.
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