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The human heart is about the size of a clenched fist. It is located under the breastbone between the lungs
(just left of centre) and is made up of four chambers. Blood flows through these chambers in a pattern that
supplies all parts of the body with oxygenated blood and returns blood to the lungs for re-oxygenation. There are two types of blood vessels: arteries and veins. Arteries carry oxygenated blood from
the heart and are elastic, which enables them to withstand the pressure of blood being pumped with
great force. Veins carry blood back to the heart. By the same time blood reaches the veins, blood
pressure has dropped. Veins are not elastic, but have small valves that keep the de-oxygenated blood from
flowing backwards. When kept healthy and strong, the body's network of veins and arteries should work as
efficiently in an older body as a younger one.
The body's ingenious design means skin, muscle and a sturdy ribcage protect the heart from injury.
The real risk to the health of our heart comes not from injury, but from failing to take proper care of this
vital organ. However, maintaining a healthy heart is relatively simple, and it is never too late to start.
The first question is: Do you smoke? If you do, the first step is to quit. Even occasional smoking has
been proven to be detrimental to the health of your heart. Regular exercise is essential to help maintain
weight and keep the heart strong. It is, after all, a muscle. It is also important to limit fats in the diet,
particularly animal fats derived from meat and full-fat dairy foods.
Enjoying health to a ripe old age is common in many Mediterranean communities where diet is based
on olive oil, vegetables, fish, nuts, fruits, grains and pulses. Many doctors and naturopaths believe that it
is the low levels of cholesterol that make the Mediterranean diet an excellent model for those wishing to
maintain their cardiovascular health.
Keep your heart strong with exercise. It has proven that exercise is extremely important for the
maintenance of a healthy cardiovascular system. In addition to keeping the heart itself strong, exercise
helps maintain a healthy weight, which reduces pressure on the heart. You don't need to become a gym
junkie. A brisk 30-minute walk at least three times a week can make a huge difference to your health.
Supplement CoQ10 occurs naturally in the body and
levels decline with age. A CoQ10 supplement assists in
maintaining a healthy heart, in particular the function
of the heart muscle. It has also been shown to reduce
oxidation of LDL cholesterol. |
