The body is a network of veins, arteries and capillaries – all interconnected, and all trying to complete the vital task of carrying blood to every part of our bodies. Good blood circulation means getting oxygen-rich blood to even the farthest tips of our bodies, from fingers to toes. Normal circulation of blood carries nutrients [...]

Maintaining healthy water balance in the body is of vital importance to health. As the human body uses water for many biological processes, healthy fluid levels are necessary for bodily systems to function effectively, from the cardiovascular system to the immune system. When this water balance is disrupted and water retention occurs, many people turn [...]

The heart is an incredibly powerful organ that works constantly, without ever pausing to rest. Unlike other types of muscles, the cardiac muscle never gets tired, but relies on a steady flow of oxygenated blood to keep working. In one day, the heart transports all of its blood around the body about 1000 times! But [...]

Heart failure describes the condition where the heart is not pumping at full efficiency and cannot keep up with the blood flow demand from the body’s organs. When the heart no longer pumps as it should, the organs in the body become deprived of oxygen and nutrients, and symptoms soon arise.

The term circulation is most commonly associated with blood circulation in the body. Circulation is responsible for the action that moves nutrients, gases and wastes to and from cells, and helps stabilize body temperature and pH to maintain harmony. We cannot live without our blood circulating throughout our body. The heart acts as a pump, [...]

Cardiomyopathy is a disease of the heart muscle that either causes a weakening of the heart muscle or a change in its structure. While there are different types of cardiomyopathy, they all affect the heart’s ability to pump blood throughout the body and can thus have serious consequences.

Blood pressure is the force that the blood exerts on the veins and arteries while it circulates through the body. We express the measurement of blood pressure as a ratio, such as 120/80 mmHg. The first number is the pressure exerted when blood is pumped into the arteries as the heart muscle contracts (systolic pressure). [...]

Cardiac arrhythmias, also commonly called arrhythmias, are irregularities of the heart beat. For the most part, the normal, constant rhythm of the heartbeat that ensures essential blood flow throughout the body goes unnoticed. But for some people, problems arise as the electrical impulses that synchronize the heart beat don’t function properly, causing the heart to [...]

Angina pectoris is the medical term for chest pain or the feeling of pressure in the chest that occurs when the heart muscle does not receive a sufficient supply of blood and oxygen. When the arteries supplying blood and oxygen to the heart are blocked, the blood flow to the heart muscle is obstructed and [...]

It’s estimated that nearly 30 million people in the U.S. are affected by high blood pressure. This would make high blood pressure the third most common chronic ailment in the nation. More importantly, high blood pressure is an excellent predictor for who will suffer from serious cardiovascular disease in the mid-sixties. It’s time to take [...]