Blood Circulation – How to Maintain and Why Circulatory System Health is Important

The circulatory system is responsible for transporting blood throughout the body, consisting of the heart and blood vessels. Its operating mechanism is quite complex, which is why we must pay special attention to the health of blood circulation.

Blood circulation in humans is vital for the entire organism, but like other organs, blood vessels and even the heart can become ill. Therefore, it is very important to pay attention to the signs they give us. From cold hands and feet, symptoms of poor circulation, to more serious conditions, all must be taken into account. Both good and poor circulation are influenced by several factors.

Below, we will analyze the main signs that can indicate possible diseases of the circulatory system. We will also discover why the health of blood vessels is very important for the entire human body and some methods to keep them healthy.

Blood Circulation – Definition and Mechanism of Operation

Blood circulation can be defined as a whole system for transporting nutrients, oxygen, and carbon dioxide through the body. The circulatory system is quite complex, consisting of:

• the heart, which is the engine that pushes blood and lymph through the body;
• blood vessels, which represent the nutrient transport network.

Blood vessels, in turn, are of several types. They are divided into arteries, veins, and capillaries. Each of them has a different role in the human circulatory system, as follows:

• arteries are those that transport oxygenated blood from the heart to every organ of the body;
• veins are those that carry deoxygenated blood to the heart;
• capillaries are those that carry out the exchange of nutrients and other substances between the blood and tissues.

All these elements are interconnected in a system that has a very complex operating mechanism.

How Blood Circulation Works in Humans

Blood circulation is based on the heart, especially on its beats that push blood through the network of vessels. This network extends throughout the body, from head to toe, transporting oxygen and nutrients to the tissues. The transport of all substances occurs at a certain speed, so when it slows down, we say we have poor, weak, or deficient blood circulation.

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The vascular system is composed of several elements, each playing an important role in the functioning of all organs in the body.

Blood Circulation in Humans – The Two Major Components of the Vascular System

When we refer to the circulatory system, we often talk about the pulmonary and systemic circulation. What are they? They cover two major organs: the heart and lungs. They are also among the organs most affected by poor blood circulation.

The role of pulmonary and systemic circulation is to transport carbon dioxide and oxygen throughout the body with the help of blood vessels. Their balance ensures our optimal health.

Pulmonary Circulation

Pulmonary circulation occurs between the heart and lungs, also being called pulmonary circulation. It begins in the right ventricle of the heart, reaching through the pulmonary artery trunk, which transports carbon dioxide to the lungs. Further on, the pulmonary trunk divides into the two pulmonary arteries. These transport deoxygenated blood to the capillaries, where it is eliminated through breathing.

Pulmonary circulation completes its cycle with oxygenated blood collected by the pulmonary veins, which transport it to the left atrium of the heart.

Systemic Circulation

Systemic circulation is also called great circulation. It begins in the left ventricle, leaving through the aorta, which transports oxygenated blood and nutrients to the tissues and organs. Further on, the vena cavae collect deoxygenated blood and bring it to the right atrium.

Human systemic circulation is divided into two systems. Specifically:

• the aortic system;
• the venous system.

Both are composed of several arteries and veins involved in both pulmonary and systemic vascular circulation.

The Aortic System and Its Role in Blood Circulation

This system consists of the aorta and its branches, which reach all tissues and organs. It begins in the left ventricle with the ascending aorta, from which the two coronary arteries branch off. Then, it ascends and curves, forming the aortic arch. As it descends, it continues with the descending aorta, which is further divided into the thoracic and abdominal aorta. Finally, it splits into the left and right iliac arteries.

Following their names, we understand that the aortic system starts at the heart and sequentially reaches the thorax, abdomen, and continues to the pelvis, in the ilio-sacral area. From there, it divides into:

• femoral arteries, which supply the thighs;
• popliteal artery, which is located in the back of the knee;
• tibial arteries, which reach the feet through the legs;
• in the feet, the aortic system ends with the plantar arteries.

Besides the aortic system, the venous system is equally important.

The Venous System of Systemic Circulation

The venous system is composed of two large veins:

• the superior vena cava;
• the inferior vena cava.

The superior vena cava has the role of collecting blood from the head and neck area through the internal jugular veins. Through the subclavian veins, it collects blood from the upper limbs, and from the thorax, through the azygos system.

The internal jugular vein and the subclavian vein merge, forming the left and right brachiocephalic veins, thus completing the superior vena cava.

The inferior vena cava collects blood from various parts and organs of the body. It originates from the lower limbs, passing through the pelvis, kidneys, genital organs, abdomen, and up to the liver. It is formed by the union of the left and right iliac veins. The latter are formed by the external and internal iliac veins, respectively.

This is a brief description of how the human circulatory system works; it is much more complex than this. Its health is very important, considering that it is responsible for the oxygenation of all limbs and organs in the body. It can be influenced by several factors, with poor blood circulation attracting our attention in many ways.

Blood Circulation and the Factors That Influence It

When we talk about problematic blood circulation, we often say it’s poor or deficient. This is not random; it is influenced by several factors. Among these, the most common are:

• advanced age, which is often a cause of poor blood circulation;
• smoking, which affects all blood vessels and can cause various diseases of the entire vascular system;
• obesity is another factor for deficient circulation, due to fat deposits on the inside of blood vessels, as well as on the organs supplied by blood;
• sedentary lifestyle has become another cause of a deficient circulatory system;
• an unhealthy diet can cause various cardiovascular diseases, such as hypertension, the heart being the starting point of blood circulation;
• hereditary factors, so if we have cases of vascular diseases in the family, the probability of suffering from deficient blood circulation increases.

In addition to these, poor blood circulation can also be caused by various diseases, including:

• atherosclerosis;
• deep vein thrombosis, which is associated with blood clots formed in the legs due to deficient circulation;
• peripheral artery disease;
• varicose veins;
• diabetes;
• Raynaud’s disease.

The latter causes spasms in the peripheral blood vessels. It manifests as numbness in the fingers, toes, and even in the head, at the ears.

Poor Blood Circulation and Its Main Symptoms

The first symptom of poor blood circulation is cold hands and feet. In addition to this, there are also the following:

• the appearance of varicose veins or veins that look like a spiderweb;
• a feeling of heaviness in the legs, as well as swelling;
• discoloration or blueness of the skin;
• pelvic pain or discomfort;
• numbness and tingling in the extremities.

Most of the time, the primary concerns are blood circulation in the heart, legs, and head, as these are among the most problematic.

Blood circulation in the heart. This is very important, as it is responsible for pumping blood to the rest of the organs. Deficient vascular circulation is associated with conditions such as atherosclerosis, aortic disease, peripheral and coronary artery disease.

Blood circulation in the legs. It is one of the most common causes of lower limb conditions. It can cause thrombosis, chronic venous insufficiency, and even pelvic congestion syndrome.

Blood circulation in the head. The peculiarity of this system is that it has its own regulation mechanism. Slowed blood flow can lead to various diseases that affect the brain. These include cerebral aneurysm, ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke (CVA).

Deficient blood circulation in humans can lead to many diseases. The good news is that these can be prevented through a few simple measures. One of the most important is diet.

Poor Blood Circulation – How to Correct It

Taking care of your cardiovascular system is not difficult. The first aspect that should concern us is nutrition, which plays a decisive role in the health of blood circulation. What do we need to do for this purpose? Mainly, two things:

1. avoid foods that damage blood vessels;
2. consume products rich in nutrients, especially since this is the role of blood: to transport nutrients to all vital organs of the human body.

In addition to these, any form of exercise contributes to the health of blood vessels and tissues.

What Foods Should We Avoid for Proper Blood Circulation

Besides potential diseases that can lead to poor blood circulation, our lifestyle matters a lot when we want to stay healthy. From a nutritional point of view, here are some products we should avoid:

• fats, which deposit on the inside of blood vessels, directly affecting the circulatory system;
• sugar, which is responsible not only for the illness of blood vessels but also for more serious diseases, such as diabetes;
• processed foods with a high content of food additives, which are a danger to the entire human body.

There are many alternatives to these, and to promote blood circulation, we can also turn to various dietary supplements, in addition to foods.

Good Foods for Blood Circulation

As long as we maintain a balanced diet and avoid the products mentioned above, blood circulation should be good. However, there are certain foods that promote the proper functioning of the circulatory system. They can be consumed to prevent the degeneration of the cardiovascular system.

Among the foods that help us have good blood circulation or improve deficient circulation are:

• fruits and vegetables, rich in antioxidants, fiber, and nutrients;
• fish, which contains omega-3, preventing clogged arteries;
• beetroot, which is rich in nitric oxide and promotes blood flow to all tissues and organs;
• foods rich in vitamin C, known for its beneficial effects on heart health, the engine that propels blood through veins and arteries;
• foods rich in anthocyanins, such as aronia, which promote heart health.

When we are unsure about the quantity of these in food, we can consume various supplements in different forms. Teas, juices, or capsules can all help maintain blood circulation in humans.

Rich in vitamins, antioxidants, and nitric oxide, aronia and beetroot juice contributes to the health of the circulatory system, the heart, and more. It can also be consumed in certain conditions related to poor blood circulation, such as diabetes.

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Seabuckthorn juice is equally beneficial. Plain or in combination with other fruits, this fruit is rich in vitamin C. It can be consumed to maintain blood pressure within normal limits, helping the heart function correctly and stay healthy.

In conclusion, blood circulation is the system that ensures all nutrients and proper exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide for the entire human body. Composed of arteries, veins, and capillaries, when we talk about its health, we focus on all these components.

When it is unhealthy, it can lead to the illness of many organs, but mainly the heart. Therefore, it is very important to take action at the first signs of deficient circulation. Among the most important are dietary correction and regular exercise. Also, there are certain products that promote vascularization. Among them are those rich in antioxidants, vitamin C, and anthocyanins.

References:

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/21775-circulatory-system

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279250/

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/foods-that-increase-blood-flow

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/325829

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