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The Circulatory SystemThe circulatory system consists of the heart and blood vessels. Circulatory disease is the
leading cause of death in America and most Western societies. Fortunately, heart and blood
vessel health has been studied extensively, and circulatory health can be improved greatly by
lifestyle and nutritional choices. Several herbs and complementary therapies have welldocumented
studies that prove their efficacy.
Heart Anatomy
The heart is a muscle composed of four chambers: the two atria (right and left) are the
receiving chambers, while the two ventricles propel blood away from the heart. The right
ventricle pumps blood to the lungs so that the blood can become rich with oxygen, and the left
ventricle pumps the oxygenated blood throughout the body. Between the chambers are valves
that ensure the blood goes to the right places at the proper times.
Your heartbeat is based on electrical impulses that originate in various nodes within the heart.
When an electrical signal is received, your atria and ventricles contract, sending moving blood
through the heart and about the body. Arteries, Veins, and Capillaries
Blood travels through arteries away from the heart to the rest of the body, where it enters tiny
vessels called capillaries that allow blood to perfuse into all the tissues of our bodies. Blood
is returned to the heart via veins. Unlike arteries, veins may have valves to aid in the blood
return to the heart. The circulation to and from the lungs, called pulmonary circulation, is a specialized process. There are also specialized vessels that provide circulation to the heart itself.
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