What Is the Function of the Cardiovascular System?

The cardiovascular system is made up of the heart and blood vessels. Its function is to circulate blood throughout the body and bring oxygen and nutrients to muscles and organs. The blood then returns to the heart to continue pumping. If there is damage to the heart muscle, it can result in heart disease and damage to other organs.

How the Heart Works

A normal heart is the size of a clenched first. The heart is one of the hardest working organs in the body. Made up of muscle tissue, its primary purpose is to pump blood throughout the body ensuring that cells and organs receive life-sustaining oxygen.

Interesting Facts

We can all feel our own heartbeat. We place our hands over our heart when pledging allegiance, we feel it flutter at the thought of a loved one, but beyond that, the organ typically associated with our emotions is a mystery. The American Heart Association details exactly how the heart works. Some of its functions may even be a surprise. For example, blood is pumped from the four chambers of the heart and it always flows in just one direction. When blood leaves the heart it is blue in color--not red. Blood does not become red until it enters the lungs where it gets oxygenated. After circulating throughout the body, and delivering oxygen to the cells, blood turns blue again before returning to the heart to start over. The first organ to function in the fetus is the heart

Beating of the Heart

The heart has four chambers. For the circulatory system to function correctly, these chambers must beat in an organized manner. An electrical impulse is responsible for this process. The American Heart Association reports that a normal heart will beat 100,000 times a day. About 2,000 pints of blood is pumped through the body on each day. The average human heart will beat about 2 billion times throughout the life of a 70-year-old person.

Staying Heart-Healthy

Most people are born with a healthy, strong cardiovascular system. But many lifestyle choices can damage the heart muscle. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that half a million Americans die each year from heart disease. Staving off any kind of heart damage is as simple as eating your vegetables and walking half an hour a day. As for diet, eating healthy foods and vegetables reduce the risk of developing heart disease. This includes preparing foods in a heart-healthy way.

Weight control is also important. About 66 percent of American adults are obese, according to the Weight-Control Information Network. Extra pounds put stress on the heart and is one of the leading causes of heart disease. Managing weight by eating right and getting exercise is the first line of defense in keeping the pounds under control.

Exercise is key. Researchers at Erasmus M.C. University Medical Center in Rotterdam found that people who engaged moderate or frequent exercise lived longer than those who didn't. The reasoned is that those who exercised more had healthier cardiovascular systems.

Heart Health Benefits

Keeping your heart healthy doesn't just prolong your life, it saves money, too. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that in 2009 heart disease will cost more than $304.6 billion. Healthcare services and medications are an ever increasing burden on the average American. Studies showing that stress is related to heart disease and the cardiovascular system makes staying healthy something to seriously consider.