Heart and Circulation
The circulatory system functions as the freeways and streets of our bodies. The heart pumps the blood through arteries and skeletal muscles pump it back through veins. Along the way microvasculature delivers nutrients to cells and tissues and removes wastes. Much like trucks picking up garbage or delivering goods at houses or stores.
Cardiovascular disease is the number one killer in the United States. How can a relatively simple system break down and cause disease and death so easily? The answer lies in what is flowing through the vasculature. If organs of elimination are not getting rid of what is being picked up by the blood from the cells and tissues the blood becomes thick. If we are consuming food that is full of sugar, animal fat, additives with little nutritional value the blood also becomes thick. The thicker the blood the harder it is to get in and out of microcirculation to feed individual cells and tissues and the less ability it has to remove waste products from those cells and tissues. Tissue can become inflamed due to it's inability to get rid of built up waste materials and those products of inflammation make the blood thicker still.
Thick blood is hard to pump which raises the blood pressure as the body attempts to force it through every arteriole. The heart has to pump harder and faster to get the blood to move. This pressure on the vasculature creates tiny abrasions, those abrasions are fixed with cholesterol and fibrinogen. This narrows the lumen of the arteries further impeding the flow of the blood thus causing increases in blood pressure and heart work.
The heart is a muscle and regular aerobic activity is needed in order to optimize its ability to pump blood. The arterial blood vessels are channels through which the blood isdelivered in order to carry nutrients to all the tissues in the body. If the blood flow is forced through narrow vascular channels ( as is in the case of atherosclerosis, hypertension and ischemia), the heart has to strain harder to pump against the resistance. Regular relaxation helps the vessels to better dilate (open wider). Alternating exercise and relaxation enables the heart to bring the vital nourishment contained in the blood to its own tissue and to the rest of the body. To accomplish this requires blood vessels that can accommodate changing local needs. The chronic presence of excessive fats and sugar in the blood is detrimental to the elasticity of the vessels. The adequate consumption of other nutrients including certain minerals (calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium etc) and flavonoids (found in dark colored fruits vegetables and herbs) are important for maintaining the functional integrity of the blood vessels. So balanced nutrition is paramount to assure the health not only of tissues throughout the body but of the circulatory system itself.
Exercises such as brisk walking, cycling, hiking or swimming are adequate to increase the hearts tone and capacity. The key is consistency. Only 20 to 30 minutes of cardiovascular exercise 4 to 5 times a week can keep your heart and cardiovascular system healthy.
We live in a stressful world and our adrenal glands and adrenergic nerves respond by imposing a detrimental influence on the circulation. Relaxation is one way to counteract this. Some effective means to relax is by the regular practice of slow, deep breathing, progressive relaxation and biofeedback. This produces a cholinergic response and balances the autonomic nerve activity. Which can dissipate adrenergic nerve control. While lying on the back the muscles are successively relaxed by beginning with the feet, legs and thighs,continuing with the abdomen, chest and back then going to the hands, forearms, arms and shoulders. Biofeedback training is another means for people to learn to consciously relax.
Anyone with symptoms of heart disease needs to be under the care of a physician.
Labs: Comprehensive Cardiovascular Profile 2.0 by Great Smokies Diagnostic Laboratories,analyzes blood for levels of HDL, LDL, lipid fractionation, total cholesterol, ratios, triglycerides, lipoprotein(a), homocysteine, fibrinogen, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein. Includes Relative Risk Indices and Metabolic Syndrome Alerts. Together, these markers provide a thorough assessment of cardiovascular health status.
Supplements: Coenzyme Q-10, Hawthorn berry, Hammamelis, Leonorus cardiaca, and glandulars