According to a report published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heart disease is the leading cause of death for men, women, and people of most racial and ethnic groups, where one person dies every 33 seconds from cardiovascular disease. In the last couple of years, nearly 710,000 people died from cardiovascular disease.
The root of cardiovascular disease is usually traced back to smoking, physical inactivity, excessive alcohol consumption, stress, diabetes, kidney disease, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. All of which affect the circulatory system.
And any healthcare professional, from physicians and nurses to students of online ABSN programs, can tell you that the circulatory system plays a vital role in supplying blood with oxygen and nutrients.
So, letโs take a look at how the circulatory system works and how to keep it healthy.
How does the circulatory system work?
The circulatory system, also known as the cardiovascular system, supplies oxygen and nutrients to the whole body and removes waste through the blood. The heart pumps blood, which flows through the arteries, veins, and capillaries.
Itโs these blood vessels and the heart that form the circulatory system. They work together to ensure the cells have what they need.
The four main sections of the circulatory system are the heart, arteries, veins, and capillaries. Each of these parts plays a crucial role in moving blood through the body.
The heart
The heart is a circulatory system muscular organ that pumps blood throughout the body. It is made up of two upper chambers (the right and left atria) and two lower chambers (the right and left ventricles).
The right atrium acts as a reservoir where it receives deoxygenated blood from every part of the body but the lungs.
The right ventricle pumps blood across a valve known as the pulmonic valve into the lungs for oxygenation.
The left atrium’s main purpose is to collect oxygenated blood, whereas the left ventricle is the main pumping house of the left chamber of the heart.
Collectively, the right heart and the left atrium are often called the right heart, and the left atrium and left ventricle are the left heart.
Arteries, veins, and capillaries
The blood pumped by the heart is transported in the arteries, veins, and capillaries. Letโs explore the role of each one.
Your arteries have thick, muscular, and elastic walls that support the pumping of blood. Theyโre responsible for carrying oxygenated blood away from the heart, except for a unique artery called the pulmonary artery that carries deoxygenated blood from the heart to the lungs, where it picks up oxygen and drops off carbon dioxide.
Your veins are the thin muscular walls that carry deoxygenated blood to the heart, except for the pulmonary vein that carries oxygen-rich blood from the lungs back to the heart.
The capillaries connect the branches of the veins and arteries. They make room for the exchange of molecules (oxygen, carbon dioxide, glucose, and urea) between the blood and the body’s cells.
Oxygen diffused through the walls of the capillary into the interstitial fluid, also known as the tissue fluid.ย
The diffusion process of carbon dioxide initiates from the tissue fluid, capillary walls, and finally the blood plasma.
Glucose, essentially obtained from carbohydrates, diffuses from the blood plasma across the capillary walls and then into the body cells.
Urea diffuses from the cells of the liver to the interstitial fluid, the capillary walls, and into the blood plasma.
Ways to keep the circulatory system healthy
To maintain a healthy circulatory system, you need to develop habits that support your overall health. This can look like eating a diet rich in fruit, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats. Whenever you can, steer clear of processed foods and reduce your salt intake, as it can increase blood pressure.
Make getting enough exercise a priority. Set a target of at least 150 minutes of aerobic activity per week. You donโt have to do anything extraordinary either. Whether itโs walking, running, swimming, cycling, or dancing, even just 30 minutes of moderate exercise a day helps.
If youโre a smoker, ditch tobacco-based products such as vapes and cigarettes. And if youโre someone who stresses out a lot, try journaling and spending more time in nature, or pick up meditation and yoga. Whatever lifestyle changes you make, itโs important to speak with your healthcare provider and ensure youโre getting routine checkups to make sure everything is in order.
