Mid-Unit Summary

This unit was primarily focused on the circulatory system of our bodies. The circulatory system is the how the body transports blood cells and nutrients to tissues throughout the entire body. The major components of the system include the heart (pump), network of tubes, arteries, veins, and blood. Specific parts that aid the circulatory system include pulmonary arteries, pulmonary veins, aortic arch, common carotid artery, renal vein and artery, and mesenteric arteries. Accessory organs within the circulatory system include lungs, kidneys, small intestine, large intestine, and bone marrow.
Blood is pumped through the heart's four chambers. The left side of the heart pumps oxygenated blood to the body while the right side pumps deoxygenated blood to the lungs to where oxygen is absorbed by hemoglobin carrying red blood cells. Blood is first pumped through the superior and inferior vena caves, which comes from the body. The blood enters the right atrium and passes through the tricuspid valve into the right ventricle. It then exits through the pulmonary valve and out the pulmonary artery towards the lungs. Blood goes through gaseous exchange in the lungs, and reenters through the pulmonary vein. Blood enters the left atrium and goes through the bicuspid valve. It then goes through the left ventricle, and lastly exits through the aortic valve of the aorta to the body.
Although the circulatory system plays a major role in our body, many Americans choose to not help their own system and instead abuse it. Cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death in the United States, and that number is only increasing due to the fast food culture given to the younger generation. Many of these diseases start due to LDL cholesterol, which when in excess, is stored as fat and plaque within our blood vessels. This resistant tissue in the vessels causes the heart to pump harder, increasing blood pressure which can also contribute to common heart diseases throughout the United States such as atherosclorosis, aneurysms, cardiac arrests, and stroke.
Certain diseases such as atherosclerosis has been continuously blasted upon by the scientific community by myths, illustrating that despite all the advanced medical research we may have, we still do not fully understand our bodies. It has been claimed before that plaque destroys the walls of blood vessels, which leads to such diseases. But new information from Atherosclerosis: The New View claims, "Surprisingly, atherosclerotic plaques expand outward during much of their existence, rather than impinging on an artery's blood-carrying channel,". However, other diseases are subtle that we are not able to detect them, such as silent strokes. As claimed in A Strike Against Stroke by: Bonnie Liebiman, "In silent strokes, people can speak normally... they don't get the warning of stroke... silent strokes cause brain cells to die,".
Of course, in order to avoid such diseases and contain a healthy circulatory system, it all revolves back to the pillars of health. Diet and exercise are major components when it comes to leading a heart-healthy lifestyle. By avoiding high-salt diets and lowering alcohol consumption, we can help improve our cardiovascular system greatly. Stress also plays an important factor, since increased stress has shown to increase blood pressure. By lowering stress and still maintaining social status with friends and family, we can tremendously lower the work load for our heart and rely on others to help us when we are struggling.