The Circulatory System and Your Health

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Our Circulatory System is crucial for our overall health. We will discuss how it works, the top circulatory system diseases, and which heart-health supplements can help. I know you are probably wondering why I am explaining the Circulatory System to you. I believe that if we have a better understanding of our body systems, we would be more conscious of taking care of ourselves, and this would give us all a better understanding of what we can do to maintain our “Life of Health and Wellness Naturally”.

How Your Heart Works

Heart Health is all about our circulatory system. What is the circulatory system? It is the main highway system of our body. The heart, blood, and blood vessels (arteries and veins) are the three major parts that make up our circulatory system. Our circulatory system is responsible for performing two primary functions.

• Supplying our cells with a continuous supply of food and oxygen
• Cleaning and removing carbon dioxide and other major waste products from our cells.

Circulatory System and Heart Facts

The right ventricle sends deoxygenated blood to the lungs, and the left ventricle delivers blood and nutrients to the other parts of our body. The two atria hold the blood that returns to the heart, and at just the right moment, they empty the blood into the ventricles. The heart pumps approximately six quarts of blood throughout the body every minute and beats around 100,000 times each day. That is a lot of work for one amazing organ!

Facts About Blood

Our bodies hold approximately 1 1/2 gallons of blood. Blood is what carries our food and waste throughout our circulatory system. It not only carries nutrients and oxygen, it also carries hormones, which control body processes and antibodies which fight invading infections. Blood is 55% plasma and 45% blood cells. Of that 45%, red blood cells make up 99%, and the remaining 1% consists of white blood cells. Our Blood has many responsibilities.

• Transports oxygen, nutrients, hormones, antibodies, etc
• Maintains the temperature of our bodies
• Removes toxins from the body
• Regulates body fluid electrolytes
• Plays a key role in the clotting process

That’s a lot of work for 1 1/2 gallons of blood. I mean, think about it – wow!

Blood Vessel Facts

Blood vessels are small, hollow tubes that transport blood throughout the body. We have different types of blood vessels. We have arteries, arterioles, capillaries, venules, and veins. The basic thing to know is that Arteries are thick and muscular blood vessels that carry oxygen-rich blood from the heart to the cells and tissues, and Veins carry oxygen-poor blood and waste products back to the heart. The Arterioles branch out from the arteries and transport blood to the Capillaries. The Venules carry the wastes from the Capillaries back to the veins. This pretty much sums it up.

Circulatory System Diseases

• Heart Disease – a general term that refers to any disorder or condition of the heart, including coronary heart disease, hypertension, congenital heart disease, disorders of the heart valves, heart infections, and heart arrhythmias. With heart disease, we usually do not have any warnings before our first heart attack, because usually in the early stages of Heart disease, there are no symptoms. An estimated 805,000 Americans will have a new or recurrent heart attack this year!
• Cholesterol – There are two main types of cholesterol, LDL and HDL. LDL transports cholesterol and other fats through our blood vessels from the liver to various areas of the body, including muscles, tissues, and organs. LDL is responsible for providing numerous life-sustaining functions. However, too much LDL in our blood vessels can become dangerous, especially if it becomes oxidized (meaning it can react with free radicals), which can cause tissue damage. This is why a high LDL level can increase your risk for a heart attack. HDL, also known as the good or happy cholesterol, is produced by the liver to carry LDL cholesterol and other fats from our tissues and organs back to the liver for recycling. High levels of HDL are good because our blood vessels remain clear, and we have a higher ability to carry away the bad stuff.
• Triglycerides – High triglycerides are one of the most common types of fat in your body. High blood levels can increase your risk for heart disease, stroke, and hardening of the arteries. It is also known to contribute to metabolic syndrome.
• Heart Failure – This occurs when the heart is unable to pump enough blood and oxygen to meet the body’s needs. Unfortunately, there is no cure for heart failure. Once it occurs, you will need treatment for the rest of your life. The most common cause of heart failure is coronary artery disease. Coronary artery disease is caused by the arteries that supply blood to the heart becoming narrowed or blocked. When the blood flow is completely blocked, you have a heart attack. Other causes of heart failure include cardiomyopathy, hypertension, heart valve disease, congenital heart disease, alcoholism, and drug abuse.
• Atherosclerosis – This is caused by an accumulation of cholesterol, calcium, and other minerals on the inside lining of our blood vessels, which can, over time, clog them. When the vessels become blocked or partially clogged, the body’s tissues become starved and may eventually cease to function or die. This process is also referred to as hardening of the arteries, arteriosclerosis, and the buildup of arterial plaque. Some of the signs of this condition can be high blood pressure, angina or chest pain, heart attack, poor circulation to the feet and legs, and stroke. Let’s face it – atherosclerosis is not a localized or segmented disease, so don’t kid yourself: if your coronary arteries are clogged with this plaque, it probably means that the arteries in your brain, kidneys, lungs, and other vital organs are in a similar state.

Maintaining Heart Health and the Circulatory System

• Achieve and maintain a healthy weight.
• Consume a healthy diet rich in fruits, vegetables, onions, and garlic.
• Take good-quality supplements.
• Drink more water.
• Eat more fiber.
• Cut down on table salt.
• Exercise regularly, especially through activities like walking or aerobics.
• Make sure you get enough sleep (you can’t make up for lost sleep).
• Stop smoking.
• Reduce stress.

The Journal of the American Medical Association conducted two studies and reported that following any one of the six modifiable healthy lifestyle changes reduces your lifetime risk of heart disease. The six modifiable healthy lifestyle changes are: maintaining a normal body weight, not smoking, exercising regularly, drinking moderate amounts of alcohol, eating plenty of whole grains, and consuming a lot of fruits and vegetables. These habits also promote gut health, and research continues to show it is closely connected to heart health. Your microbiome is mighty and even has a hand in blood pressure.

For those of us who are already dealing with heart issues, there are still benefits in developing healthy lifestyle habits. Start with one from the list above and implement it.

Remember, our circulatory system can not afford to take time off!

Heart Healthy Supplements

There are several herbs and supplements that support a healthy heart, or that may help naturally with circulatory system issues.

For overall circulatory health, Hawthorn, CoQ10, and Mega Chel work well.

To maintain healthy cholesterol and triglycerides, lecithin, guggul, CardioxLDL (bergamot), and Cholesterol Regulator can help your body maintain healthy cholesterol levels.

If you are having issues balancing your blood pressure, Blood PressureX, Hawthorn, Capsicum, Garlic, and Parsley are known to help promote healthy blood pressure levels.

I have listed several Nature’s Sunshine Products you can view via our affiliate link below. Feel free to click on the link and learn more about them. Remember, if you take any prescription medication, it is always best to take your medications alone and consult your doctor before starting any supplemental programs. Nature’s Sunshine Products offers a wide variety of Heart Health Supplements.  

If you want to focus on eating healthier to promote better heart health. Join our Clean Eating Kickstart.

Source: Laurence Smith