The Logic of the
Heart, Blood, and Blood Vessels
Heart, Blood, and Blood Vessels
Everyone
knows the importance of the heart and blood to life. Blood is literally our
life wire. The human body consists of
millions of cells as its building blocks.
Oxygen from the air we breathe and nutrients from the food we eat must
be supplied continuously to every cell in the body in order for us to remain
alive and be able to do anything. All
the waste products from the activities of the cells in our body must also be
removed and conveyed to the kidneys and other organs for removal from our body.
Otherwise, the wastes products by the cells will poison the cells. Blood is the vehicle for conveying oxygen,
nutrients, wastes and many other vital chemical substances around the
body. The heart is the organ responsible
for pumping and moving the blood around the body. Blood is conveyed around the body inside very
many special tubes or channels known as blood vessels. There are about 60,000 miles of blood vessels
in the body.
knows the importance of the heart and blood to life. Blood is literally our
life wire. The human body consists of
millions of cells as its building blocks.
Oxygen from the air we breathe and nutrients from the food we eat must
be supplied continuously to every cell in the body in order for us to remain
alive and be able to do anything. All
the waste products from the activities of the cells in our body must also be
removed and conveyed to the kidneys and other organs for removal from our body.
Otherwise, the wastes products by the cells will poison the cells. Blood is the vehicle for conveying oxygen,
nutrients, wastes and many other vital chemical substances around the
body. The heart is the organ responsible
for pumping and moving the blood around the body. Blood is conveyed around the body inside very
many special tubes or channels known as blood vessels. There are about 60,000 miles of blood vessels
in the body.
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“If someone’s blood
pressure is as high as 140/90 or above, continuously as monitored for an
extended period of time, say about one month or two, it is said to be too high
and therefore known as high blood pressure or hypertension. Hypertension is a disorder or disease, which
can cause serious problem in many parts of the body”.
pressure is as high as 140/90 or above, continuously as monitored for an
extended period of time, say about one month or two, it is said to be too high
and therefore known as high blood pressure or hypertension. Hypertension is a disorder or disease, which
can cause serious problem in many parts of the body”.
The Circulatory System in action |
In
human beings, like in most animals, blood is contained within blood vessels and
it is pumped round the body by the heart.
The heart is an organ, which is made of muscles with hollows or chambers. All blood vessels are connected to one
another and to the heart. The heart and
blood vessels together form a closed network of channels known as the circulatory
system. The heart contracts
regularly to push the blood round the body within the circulatory system.
human beings, like in most animals, blood is contained within blood vessels and
it is pumped round the body by the heart.
The heart is an organ, which is made of muscles with hollows or chambers. All blood vessels are connected to one
another and to the heart. The heart and
blood vessels together form a closed network of channels known as the circulatory
system. The heart contracts
regularly to push the blood round the body within the circulatory system.
The Human Heart in action |
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The
circulatory system acts as the
transportation system of the body. When
the heart muscles contract, the blood in the chambers of the heart is pumped
into the network of blood vessels in which it circulate to all parts of the
body, carrying oxygen, nutrients, waste products and many other important
substances which the body needs to be able to function properly.
circulatory system acts as the
transportation system of the body. When
the heart muscles contract, the blood in the chambers of the heart is pumped
into the network of blood vessels in which it circulate to all parts of the
body, carrying oxygen, nutrients, waste products and many other important
substances which the body needs to be able to function properly.
The
blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart are known as arteries
and those that return blood to the heart are known as veins. Arteries
convey blood from the heart to organs and tissues while the veins return blood
to the heart from the various organs and tissues.
blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart are known as arteries
and those that return blood to the heart are known as veins. Arteries
convey blood from the heart to organs and tissues while the veins return blood
to the heart from the various organs and tissues.
Mr. Oluwabunmi Adedayo, a great entrepreneur and only child of the owner of TASTY FRIED CHICKEN in Nigeria, died of Heart Attack as a result of obesity |
The
blood conveys oxygen from the air that we breathe into the lungs and nutrients
from the food that we eat to all parts of the body for the life and health of
all tissue cells. The first part of the
arterial system leaving the heart is known as the aorta, which is the
largest blood vessel in the body. The first two branches of the aorta (right
and left coronary arteries) supply oxygen and nutrients to the heart muscles.
blood conveys oxygen from the air that we breathe into the lungs and nutrients
from the food that we eat to all parts of the body for the life and health of
all tissue cells. The first part of the
arterial system leaving the heart is known as the aorta, which is the
largest blood vessel in the body. The first two branches of the aorta (right
and left coronary arteries) supply oxygen and nutrients to the heart muscles.
Through
the process of heartbeat, the heart pumps blood into arteries and around the body.
Blood returns to the heart through veins
to be pumped round the body, again, and again. The heart beats about seventy
times per minute and over one hundred thousand times each day. This process starts from the time the baby is
only a few months in the womb until the person dies. All the vessels and the heart are usually
full of blood; so when the heart muscles contract, blood is pumped into the
already full network of vessels. The
heart has to pump with enough force to be able to push blood into the already
full vessels and around the body.
the process of heartbeat, the heart pumps blood into arteries and around the body.
Blood returns to the heart through veins
to be pumped round the body, again, and again. The heart beats about seventy
times per minute and over one hundred thousand times each day. This process starts from the time the baby is
only a few months in the womb until the person dies. All the vessels and the heart are usually
full of blood; so when the heart muscles contract, blood is pumped into the
already full network of vessels. The
heart has to pump with enough force to be able to push blood into the already
full vessels and around the body.
Blood pressure is the force that is
required to push blood through the arteries.
The walls of blood vessels, especially arteries, are elastic and are therefore
able to expand when the heart pumps blood into them through the process of
heartbeat. The blood that the heart
forces into an already full vessel exacts a certain amount of force, which
makes the walls of the vessel to expand and force blood ahead in the vessel. The force that is exacted on the walls of
artery in this process can be measured as blood
pressure.
required to push blood through the arteries.
The walls of blood vessels, especially arteries, are elastic and are therefore
able to expand when the heart pumps blood into them through the process of
heartbeat. The blood that the heart
forces into an already full vessel exacts a certain amount of force, which
makes the walls of the vessel to expand and force blood ahead in the vessel. The force that is exacted on the walls of
artery in this process can be measured as blood
pressure.
Blood pressure can be measured by a
blood pressure machine or instrument. Blood pressure is measured as the
pressure created when the blood is pushed into the vessel (systolic pressure)
over the pressure that is constantly present in the blood-filled vessel; that
is pressure that is present before blood is pushed into the vessels (diastolic
pressure). This is why blood pressure is
always reported as one figure over another, such as 120/70. In this case, the
120 is the systolic pressure and 70 is the diastolic pressure.
blood pressure machine or instrument. Blood pressure is measured as the
pressure created when the blood is pushed into the vessel (systolic pressure)
over the pressure that is constantly present in the blood-filled vessel; that
is pressure that is present before blood is pushed into the vessels (diastolic
pressure). This is why blood pressure is
always reported as one figure over another, such as 120/70. In this case, the
120 is the systolic pressure and 70 is the diastolic pressure.
How to develop
Hypertension
Hypertension
A
normal adult blood pressure ranges
from 100/60 to 130/80 and blood pressure tends to increase with age. If someone’s blood pressure is as high as
140/90 or above, continuously as monitored for an extended period of time, say
about one month or two, it is said to be too high and therefore known as high blood pressure or hypertension. Hypertension is a disorder or disease,
which can cause serious problem in many parts of the body.
normal adult blood pressure ranges
from 100/60 to 130/80 and blood pressure tends to increase with age. If someone’s blood pressure is as high as
140/90 or above, continuously as monitored for an extended period of time, say
about one month or two, it is said to be too high and therefore known as high blood pressure or hypertension. Hypertension is a disorder or disease,
which can cause serious problem in many parts of the body.
Late Nigerian Head of State, General Sani Abacha, died of Heart Attack |
High blood pressure generally does not
cause any pain or some other symptoms; therefore someone who suffers high blood pressure may not be aware of
the problem. Nevertheless, high blood pressure or hypertension is a
very dangerous condition that causes serious damage in vital organs, such as
the heart, brain, kidneys and eyes.
cause any pain or some other symptoms; therefore someone who suffers high blood pressure may not be aware of
the problem. Nevertheless, high blood pressure or hypertension is a
very dangerous condition that causes serious damage in vital organs, such as
the heart, brain, kidneys and eyes.
(From the Book; “Early and Sudden Death; the Price of Affluence among
Nigerians” Read “5 Deadly Causes
of High Blood Pressure & Hypertension” in our next post on Asabeafrika)
Nigerians” Read “5 Deadly Causes
of High Blood Pressure & Hypertension” in our next post on Asabeafrika)