Functions
One of the most important functions of the Respiratory system is to supply
oxygen to all the cells in the body. Every cell in the body requires a constant
supply of oxygen to stay alive.
A second critical function of the Respiratory system is to supply all the cells
in the body with nutrients and energy.
In addition to nutrients and oxygen, the blood also carries around
important disease-fighting cells.
Hormones are crucial chemical signals that the body uses to communicate
with itself. Hormones control many things such as growth, the reproductive
cycle and glucose metabolism.
The cardiovascular system also plays a role in regulating body temperature.
How it works
When you breathe air through your mouth and nose it travels to your lungs.
Oxygen from the air is absorbed into your bloodstream through your lungs. Your
heart then pumps oxygenated (oxygen-rich) blood through a network of blood
vessels – the arteries – to tissues including your organs, muscles and nerves,
all around your body.
When blood reaches the capillaries in your tissues it releases oxygen, which
cells use to make energy. These cells release waste products, such as carbon
dioxide and water, which your blood absorbs and carries away.
The deoxygenated blood then travels along your veins and back towards your
heart. Your heart pumps the deoxygenated blood back to your lungs, where it
absorbs fresh oxygen, and the cycle starts again.
Diseases
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) - A broad term for a range of diseases affecting
the heart and blood vessels.
Acute coronary syndromes - A term that refers to situations where the blood-supply to the heart muscle is suddenly blocked.
Angina - Angina pectoris, commonly known as angina, is chest pain due to a lack of blood to the heart muscle.
Arrhythmia - Arrhythmia describes an
abnormal heart rhythm. The heart can beat too slowly, too fast or irregularly
affecting how well the heart works and how blood is pumped around the body.
Congenital heart disease - Refers to heart malformations that are present at
birth. In many cases the cause is unknown but examples of the disease include
“holes in the heart”, abnormal valves or abnormal heart chambers.
Coronary heart disease - A disease
where one or more of the arteries supplying blood to the heart muscle becomes
blocked.
Heart failure Heart failure is a condition where the heart is not
pumping enough blood to meet the needs of the body. It is a progressive disease
where the heart starts to work harder to meet the body’s need until it can no
longer sustain the effort needed.
Inflammatory heart disease Inflammatory heart disease involves inflammation of the
heart muscle and/or the tissue surrounding it.
Ischaemic heart disease - Ischaemic heart disease is characterized by reduced blood supply to the heart muscle.
Rheumatic heart disease - An acquired heart disease that is caused by rheumatic
fever, which itself is caused by a preceding group A streptococcal (strep)
infection of the throat.
Valvular disease -Valvular disease describes a disease of the valves within the
heart that are needed to regulate blood flow. Valve disease means that the
valves either don’t open enough to allow blood to flow freely or they don’t
close effectively and blood can flow backwards.
Taking Care
Reducing your intake of sweets and fats will help decrease your overall
cholesterol and triglycerides, two elements that are critical to the health of
your cardiovascular system. Work to cut out foods high in saturated fats and
those containing trans fats, as these are the least beneficial for your heart.
Increase your blood circulation, build your heart’s strength and increase lung
capacity and function with regular exercise. The easiest way you can do this is
to sweat regularly with exercise.
Sleep deprivation can increase your resting heart rate
and blood pressure, as well as decrease your muscle nerve activity. Prolonged
lack of sleep has been connected to disturbed heart rhythms and hypertension.
Fun Facts
The heart beats around 3,000,000,000 (3 billion times) in the average person's life.
About 8 million blood cells die in the human body every second, and the same number
are born each second.
The reason why red blood cells are red is because they contain a protein chemical
called hemoglobin which is bright red in colour.
One of the most important functions of the Respiratory system is to supply
oxygen to all the cells in the body. Every cell in the body requires a constant
supply of oxygen to stay alive.
A second critical function of the Respiratory system is to supply all the cells
in the body with nutrients and energy.
In addition to nutrients and oxygen, the blood also carries around
important disease-fighting cells.
Hormones are crucial chemical signals that the body uses to communicate
with itself. Hormones control many things such as growth, the reproductive
cycle and glucose metabolism.
The cardiovascular system also plays a role in regulating body temperature.
How it works
When you breathe air through your mouth and nose it travels to your lungs.
Oxygen from the air is absorbed into your bloodstream through your lungs. Your
heart then pumps oxygenated (oxygen-rich) blood through a network of blood
vessels – the arteries – to tissues including your organs, muscles and nerves,
all around your body.
When blood reaches the capillaries in your tissues it releases oxygen, which
cells use to make energy. These cells release waste products, such as carbon
dioxide and water, which your blood absorbs and carries away.
The deoxygenated blood then travels along your veins and back towards your
heart. Your heart pumps the deoxygenated blood back to your lungs, where it
absorbs fresh oxygen, and the cycle starts again.
Diseases
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) - A broad term for a range of diseases affecting
the heart and blood vessels.
Acute coronary syndromes - A term that refers to situations where the blood-supply to the heart muscle is suddenly blocked.
Angina - Angina pectoris, commonly known as angina, is chest pain due to a lack of blood to the heart muscle.
Arrhythmia - Arrhythmia describes an
abnormal heart rhythm. The heart can beat too slowly, too fast or irregularly
affecting how well the heart works and how blood is pumped around the body.
Congenital heart disease - Refers to heart malformations that are present at
birth. In many cases the cause is unknown but examples of the disease include
“holes in the heart”, abnormal valves or abnormal heart chambers.
Coronary heart disease - A disease
where one or more of the arteries supplying blood to the heart muscle becomes
blocked.
Heart failure Heart failure is a condition where the heart is not
pumping enough blood to meet the needs of the body. It is a progressive disease
where the heart starts to work harder to meet the body’s need until it can no
longer sustain the effort needed.
Inflammatory heart disease Inflammatory heart disease involves inflammation of the
heart muscle and/or the tissue surrounding it.
Ischaemic heart disease - Ischaemic heart disease is characterized by reduced blood supply to the heart muscle.
Rheumatic heart disease - An acquired heart disease that is caused by rheumatic
fever, which itself is caused by a preceding group A streptococcal (strep)
infection of the throat.
Valvular disease -Valvular disease describes a disease of the valves within the
heart that are needed to regulate blood flow. Valve disease means that the
valves either don’t open enough to allow blood to flow freely or they don’t
close effectively and blood can flow backwards.
Taking Care
Reducing your intake of sweets and fats will help decrease your overall
cholesterol and triglycerides, two elements that are critical to the health of
your cardiovascular system. Work to cut out foods high in saturated fats and
those containing trans fats, as these are the least beneficial for your heart.
Increase your blood circulation, build your heart’s strength and increase lung
capacity and function with regular exercise. The easiest way you can do this is
to sweat regularly with exercise.
Sleep deprivation can increase your resting heart rate
and blood pressure, as well as decrease your muscle nerve activity. Prolonged
lack of sleep has been connected to disturbed heart rhythms and hypertension.
Fun Facts
The heart beats around 3,000,000,000 (3 billion times) in the average person's life.
About 8 million blood cells die in the human body every second, and the same number
are born each second.
The reason why red blood cells are red is because they contain a protein chemical
called hemoglobin which is bright red in colour.