Preventing Cardiovascular Disease & Vascular Aging | Part 2

Introduction

The heart is part of the cardiovascular system that makes sure that the blood is being pumped through the arteries and going to each organ system and muscle tissue. The blood also carries oxygen, nutrients, and hormones to each of the different systems and makes sure that they are doing their job properly. When there are unwanted pathogens that enter the body and disrupt the cardiovascular system, it can cause the arteries and blood vessels to be damaged. These problems, if not treated, can develop into chronic illnesses like inflammation, high blood pressure, oxidative stress over time. In this 2 part series, we will be taking a look at the cardiovascular system and its functions, what is cardiovascular disease and how to prevent it. Part 1 took a look at what is the vascular system, its function, and discussed what vascular aging is. By referring patients to qualified and skilled providers who specialized in cardiovascular services. To that end, and when appropriate, we advise our patients to refer to our associated medical providers based on their examination. We find that education is the key to asking valuable questions to our providers. Dr. Jimenez DC provides this information as an educational service only. Disclaimer

Can my insurance cover it? Yes, in case you are uncertain here is the link to all the insurance providers we cover. If you have any questions, please call Dr. Jimenez at 915-850-0900.

What Is The Cardiovascular System?

The cardiovascular system is made up of the heart, blood vessels, and the blood itself in the body. Its main purpose is to transport the nutrients and oxygen-riched blood all over the body. Research shows that the cardiovascular system is responsible for different parts of the body and has two blood circulatory systems in the body that are responsible for the blood being transported throughout the body. The first system is the systemic circulatory system and this is the main system that transports blood to the organs and tissues throughout the body. The second system is the pulmonary circulatory system and this system helps move the blood between the heart and the lungs. The pulmonary circulatory system makes sure that oxygen is entering the blood cells while carbon dioxide is leaving the blood cells in the body.

Cardiovascular Function

One of the most important things the cardiovascular system does is that the blood continues to flow throughout the body. Research shows that the main function of the cardiovascular system is that it makes sure that the body receives oxygen, nutrients, and hormones from the respected organ system and gets rid of the unnecessary toxins out of the body. Another function that the cardiovascular system provides is a continuous blood flow day and night. So if the individual is either awake or asleep, the heart will continue to circulate the blood flow throughout the body. The cardiovascular system also helps the body gets the necessary nutrients so the organs can do their job and keep the body’s temperature at a normal level.

What Is Cardiovascular Disease?

Since the cardiovascular system is made up of the heart and blood vessels, when there are unwanted pathogens that start affecting the cardiovascular system, it can cause an abundance of problems. Research has found that cardiovascular disease can cause by physical inactivity, an unhealthy diet, oxidative stress, metabolic syndrome, and hypertension are some of the factors that can cause cardiovascular disease to the body. Cardiovascular diseases are related to increased oxidative stress and decreased oxidative defense in the body. Another study also found that cardiovascular diseases are a relative risk factor that is age-adjusted and can affect middle-aged adults all the way to older adults.

Cardiovascular Disease Symptoms

Depending on what type of cardiovascular disease a person has, the signs and symptoms can vary. Research shows that cardiovascular diseases can be different in both males and females as some of the symptoms include:

• Chest pains
• Chest tightness
• Shortness of breath
• Numbness on the legs or arms
• Angina
• Pain on the neck, jaw, or back

Cardiovascular Disease & Stress

Stress can affect the body’s response time and can trigger the body both externally or internally. Studies have found that when there is a physiological reaction to psychological stress it can act as a trigger for cardiac events. If the stress response turns chronic in the body it can cause cardiovascular diseases to progress even further into the body. Other studies have shown that if there is chronic stress in the body, it can actually worsen the health behaviors of the cardiovascular system and can cause a rise in chronic symptoms like inflammation, a rise of oxidative stressors, and can cause a person to have a heart attack without even them knowing it.

Preventing Cardiovascular Disease

All is not lost as there are ways to prevent cardiovascular disease from progressing further and to boost the heart’s health. Research studies have provided information that can help an individual boost their heart health but also make their body feels good. Some of the ways to boost the heart include:

• Don’t smoke tobacco
• Regularly exercise for about 30 minutes to an hour
• Eating a heart-healthy diet
• Maintain a healthy weight
• Good quality sleep
• Manage stress or meditate
• Regular checkups with the doctor

Conclusion

All in all, taking care of the cardiovascular system is important since the heart makes sure to pump blood to each of the organ systems and the muscle tissues. When there are chronic illnesses that can affect the heart, it can cause major problems to the body if it is not being taken care of immediately. By maintaining a healthy weight, lowering stress levels, eating nutritional food, and exercising regularly can lower the risk of heart diseases and the body can function normally.

References

Dimsdale, Joel E. “Psychological Stress and Cardiovascular Disease.” Journal of the American College of Cardiology, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 1 Apr. 2008, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2633295/.

Lopez, Edgardo Olvera, et al. “Cardiovascular Disease.” StatPearls [Internet]., U.S. National Library of Medicine, 11 Aug. 2021, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK535419/.

Medical Professionals, Cleveland Clinic. “Cardiovascular System: Overview, Anatomy and Function.” Cleveland Clinic, 13 Sept. 2021, my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/21833-cardiovascular-system.

Medical Staff, Mayo Clinic. “Heart Disease.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 9 Feb. 2021, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/heart-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20353118.

Medical Staff, Mayo Clinic. “Top Strategies to Prevent Heart Disease.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 14 Jan. 2022, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/heart-disease/in-depth/heart-disease-prevention/art-20046502.

Ruan, Ye, et al. “Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) and Associated Risk Factors among Older Adults in Six Low-and Middle-Income Countries: Results from Sage Wave 1.” BMC Public Health, BioMed Central, 20 June 2018, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6011508/.

Sherrell, Zia. “Cardiovascular System: Function, Organs, Diseases, and More.” Medical News Today, MediLexicon International, 29 July 2021, www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/cardiovascular-system.

Steptoe, Andrew, and Mika Mika Kivimäki. “Stress and Cardiovascular Disease.” Nature Reviews. Cardiology, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 3 Apr. 2012, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22473079/.

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