The Human Circulatory System

The human circulatory system, which is also known as the cardiovascular system, is broken down into three distinct parts: The pulmonary circulation, which consists of the lungs, the coronary system, which is composed of the heart, and the systemic system.

It is an understatement to say how amazing the human body is! Did you know that the blood vessels in an adult human body stretch for approximately 60,000 miles? What an amazing piece of work was done when the human body was fashioned!

Putting it simply, the pulmonary circulation is the moving of the blood from the heart over to the lungs and then back to the heart again.

The coronary system is composed of the heart and the different coronary arteries. Just like all of the other tissues in the human body, the heart muscle needs oxygenated blood to do its job.

The systemic circulation supplies much needed nourishment to all of the tissues that are located throughout the body. The only exception to that rule is to the heart and lungs as they each have their own system. The human circulatory system is so intricate and perfectly formed.

The arteries, veins, and capillaries have the job of delivering oxygen and nutrients to the tissues.

Sometimes, there is a problem in the human circulatory system.

1. Coronary artery disease – This is often known as CAD. The arteries that supply blood to the heart are affected. If there is a diminished blood supply, then damage may be caused to the heart muscle and a scar will be left. This can often result in irregular heartbeats. The most common cause of CAD is atherosclerosis or, as we commonly know it, hardening of the arteries.



2. Angina – When the heart is not getting enough oxygen, chest pain may occur. This is a common symptom of CAD.



3. High Blood Pressure (Hypertension) – This affects the body's blood vessels. Pressure against the blood vessels' walls becomes too high and then they become less flexible. This high pressure may also weaken artery walls. The heart is then forced to pump harder. Your blood pressure should be checked yearly if it is normal and if you have high blood pressure, it should be checked every few months.




4. Heart Attack - This is also known as a myocardial infarction. This occurs when not enough blood gets to the heart. An "infarct" is an area of heart muscles that is dead. Do you know what the signs of a heart attack are?



5. Stroke – This occurs when the blood supply to a person's brain is reduced or blocked. If a blood clot becomes lodged in the carotid arteries, the result is a stroke. A stoke is very serious – it can lead to permanent disability or even death. The effects of a stroke can often be reversed if the victim receives treatment right away.



6. Peripheral Arterial Disease - This is also known as PVD. It refers to a variety of disorders that in some way affect the blood vessels in the arms, legs, feet, or hands.



7. Varicose Veins - This condition occurs when the blood vessels in the body become swollen and stretched. It can be painful and can lead to other medical problems.



8. ThrombosisThrombosis and Deep Vein Thrombosis are both related to varicose veins. Thrombosis occurs when a blood clot forms in a vein. It can be very painful and can lead to other problems, such as a pulmonary embolism.



9. Heart Arrhythmia is basically an irregular heartbeat. It can be caused by a a number of things, all of which need to be evaluated by a medical professional. While there are herbal treatments available, a full medical evaluation is important.



10. Atherosclerosis is a disease of the arteries. Removing fats and high cholesterol from the body can aid in treating this disease. Some herbal remedies can help with this.



11. Cardio-Interval Training is a great way to improve heart-health. Working the body, specifically the heart muscle, keeps it healthy, builds endurance and burns calories.

In conclusion, now that we realize how amazing our human circulatory system really is, it becomes more evident that you should take very good care of it. One body is all that you will get in this lifetime. We tend to take it for granted. If we want to keep our body well, then we must treat it right!

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