THE MOST EFFICIENT ENGINE ON EARTH
Blood is the only liquid tissue in the human body. Composed of red and white blood cells, plasma, and clotting agents called platelets, blood is a messenger to all body parts. It carries several substances, including nutrients, oxygen, and hormones, and helps regulate temperature and acid-base balance. Blood must circulate constantly from head to toe. Without blood flow, brain cells begin to die within 5 minutes. Of course,  the heart is the machine tasked with facilitating the transport of our blood, and as long as it does this, the body is still alive.
The heart is a muscle and connective tissue pump that forces blood through the vascular system. Weighing in at about 1 pound, it fits in the palm of your hand. The human heart is one of life’s greatest wonders despite its size.   It beats more than 100,000 times in a single day, pumping approximately 2,000 gallons of blood. It does this tirelessly, day after day, until death. Considering the average human lifespan of 79 years, the resilience of this organ is astounding. A car engine is made using some of the most robust materials on earth. Steel, aluminum, titanium, and iron are all used to ensure strength and stability. Despite this, one would be lucky to own a car for 20 years without the engine failing; that’s 20 years of intermittent use. The average human heart lasts four times longer without stopping for a moment.
HARDWORKING MUSCLE
Like a muscle, the more the heart exercises, the stronger it becomes, reducing the number of pumps needed to move the same amount of blood. The average sedentary adult has a heart rate of 60 to 100 beats per minute. Meanwhile, the trained heart of a well-trained athlete may beat only 40 times per minute at rest, twice the efficiency of the average high-performance athlete.
Myocytes, or muscle cells in the heart, exit the cell cycle shortly after birth, meaning that most heart cells never divide. The predominant form of growth for heart cells is to increase in size, not number.  The heart cells that die in our bodies were with us at birth. These cellular characteristics are fundamental to the function of the heart. Still, they also mean that we must be very aware of how we treat our hearts, as they cannot regenerate and heal like many other parts of the body. Unfortunately, the rise of unhealthy eating habits and lack of exercise in our country is creating severe problems for our hearts – issues that are proving fatal.
HEART DISEASE: A PROBLEMATIC PANDEMICÂ
Heart disease (cardiovascular disease) is a broad term for several heart conditions. The most common type of heart disease in the United States is known as coronary artery disease (CAD). This condition affects blood flow to the heart and, if ignored, often leads to a heart attack.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States, accounting for 1 in every 4 deaths in our country. More than $219 billion is spent annually to cover the costs of medical services, medications, and lost productivity due to heart disease-related deaths.  The number of adults with coronary artery disease is increasing. It is projected to exceed 20 million U.S. citizens in the coming years, representing more than 5 percent of the total population.
Heart disease is devastating. Interestingly, the risk factors for this deadly condition are mainly preventable. Here are just a few:
- Diabetes
- Overweight and obesity
- Unhealthy diet
- Physical inactivity
- Excessive alcohol consumption
You may notice that risk factors such as poor diet, lack of physical activity, and obesity can be easily prevented if you take consistent measures. Simple lifestyle changes can make a big difference in fighting this deadly disease.
LET’S WORK ON A SOLUTION
While many treatment options exist, including medication and surgery, the most effective solution is preventative rather than reactive. In other words, we all need to focus on our bodies’ health.
Paying close attention to what we eat and making time for moderate exercise 3-5 times a week can significantly reduce the overall incidence of heart disease and likely reduce the number of preventable deaths due to the disease.  The fight against heart disease is individual, and we can reduce the risk of developing this disease in our bodies.
At Total Health and Fitness, customized diet and fitness programs help people improve their overall health. A small daily investment of time and effort can add years to our lives and change our bodies and minds in the long run. If you have questions about improving your health, we’re here to give you the necessary tools.
