Heart disease -- also known as coronary artery disease -- represents the No. 1 killer of Americans. When you have coronary artery disease, plaque made up of cholesterol deposits lodges in your arteries, hardening and narrowing them. This plaque...
Blood vessels that are flexible and elastic are able to withstand the waves of pressure as blood is pumped from the heart to the body. Flexibility also enables blood vessels to accommodate stretching and bending movements. A variety of natural...
Arteriosclerosis or "hardening of the arteries," is a condition that results in a thickening of the walls of the arteries in the body. This thickening literally causes the walls of the arteries to become more solid and less elastic. As artery...
The arteries are a primary component of the cardiovascular system, which consists of the heart and blood vessels and functions to circulate blood. They are the largest blood vessels and have thick, muscular walls composed of three layers. The...
If you are following a low-sodium diet, the American Heart Association suggests no more than 1,500 mg sodium daily. Excess sodium intake is linked to elevated blood pressure, which in turn increases risk of stroke, coronary heart disease, heart...
Blood vessels are a part of the circulatory system, which also contains the heart. They make up a closed system, which delivers blood from the heart to the body, returns blood to the heart, and helps exchange nutrients, wastes and other substances...
Red clover, also known as cow clover, meadow clover and wild clover, is part of the legume family, the family of plants that includes beans. Red clover is high in phytoestrogens, which are compounds that resemble estrogen, according to the...
Cholesterol is a steroid produced by the liver that is essential for several body processes, such as cellular membrane fluidity and the creation of steroid hormones. Cholesterol is also associated with heart disease. High levels of "bad"...
Blood vessels are hollow tubes that allow blood to flow throughout the body. If all the blood vessels of an adult, including the veins, arteries and capillaries, were laid end to end, they would stretch for 100,000 miles, according to information...
When there is too much plaque in the body, it creates deposits on artery walls, reducing the passageway through which blood flows. Plaque can be caused by calcium and/or cholesterol build-up, which affects arterial elasticity and can lead to...
Researchers at Merck report that the cardiovascular aging process differs in senior citizens, ranging from atrophy to enlarged atriums on the heart and thickening of the ventricular walls. Not all heart deterioration is part of the natural aging...
Arteriosclerosis is a condition characterized by the buildup of calcium and lipid deposits along the inner walls of your arteries. This condition affects about 1 million adults in the United States, according to Phyllis Balch, author of...
High blood pressure is a condition characterized by high amounts of pressure pushing blood through the arteries, and the condition can lead to serious health problems, including stroke, heart attack, kidney failure and heart failure. Healthy...
Blood pressure is a measurement of the force that blood exerts against a vessel wall, during heartbeats. The chambers of the heart that contract to produce the systolic (top) number are called ventricles. When the ventricles relax, the diastolic...
Ginger is a spice commonly used in Asian and Indian cuisine. The thick roots of this herb have a spicy taste and a pungent aroma that add characteristic flavor to curries, Asian soups and stir fry dishes. Ginger may also offer health benefits as...
If you are looking to improve your overall health, look no further than your kitchen cupboard. Walnuts and almonds aren't just a delicious snack, but for some individuals, they may also be an effective home remedy for a variety of health...
Many forms of exercise can increase cardiovascular function and enhance blood circulation within your body. The benefits from exercises that stimulate the circulatory system are both immediate and long-term. According to the National Institute on...
Your cardiovascular system is made up of your heart, arteries, veins and capillaries. The heart has four separate chambers--two atria, or upper chambers, and two ventricles, or lower chambers. The right atrium and ventricle accept blood from your...
Arteriosclerosis is commonly referred to as hardening of the arteries. Healthy, flexible and elastic arteries can progressively become stiff and narrow. The arteries carry oxygenated blood from the heart to all parts of the body. The deposit of...
The health of your arteries is essential for an efficiently functioning circulatory system. Eat a diet that is rich in fruits, vegetables and other foods that provide lots of vitamins and minerals for the body. Certain vitamins, including vitamin...
A comorbid disease "worsens or impacts a primary disease," according to Taber's Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary. Hypertension, or high blood pressure, already carries such a high risk of stroke that complications from additional problems adds more...
Daily exercise provides a myriad of health benefits. It can prevent obesity, promote a healthy heart and even slow the aging process. Different types of exercise can emphasize different benefits. For example, you can achieve different benefits...
Poor circulation can be caused by many conditions. Arteriosclerosis and peripheral artery disease (PAD) are among them. While the symptoms of arteriosclerosis and PAD may be similar, some distinguishing factors distinguish them from one another....
Hypertension is the medical term for high blood pressure. Blood pressure refers to the pressure that the blood places against your arteries' walls as it flows through them. Having high blood pressure puts you at a greater risk of having a heart...
Fish oil is rich in the omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid, or EPA, and docosahexaenoic acid, or DHA. These types of omega-3s are found only in oily fish and marine algae and are the most potent all the omega-3s. The main benefits...
Olive oil is a cooking and medicinal staple throughout Southern Europe and the Mediterranean, and it is considered a health-promoting oil. With more than 750 million olive trees cultivated around the world, and nearly 50 million gallons of olive...
Several diseases and conditions can lead to poor blood circulation, which can affect the health of the heart, muscle tissue, skin and organs. Some medical professionals believe that vitamins can help improve circulation. Vitamin therapy should...
High blood glucose is a common complication of diabetes. The body normally controls glucose levels with insulin. Insulin lowers blood sugar by making it possible for the sugar to get into the cells, where it is used for energy. A healthy person...
Circulation disorders are present when oxygen-containing blood cannot travel the path of the vascular system unimpeded. Obstacles may include clots that diminish blood flow; plaque or fatty deposits that form along blood vessel walls causing high...
