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The thigh bone's connected to the knee bone.
The knee bone's connected to the leg bone ...
If there were such a thing as the heart bone, it would be smack in the middle of each line of the old spiritual, " Dem Bones." Once thought of as a solitary, aloof pump, the heart is now known to affect, and be affected by, all parts of the body.
Some of the connections reflect the widespread impact of artery-clogging atherosclerosis. Others underscore the intimate relationships between body parts. There are myriad connections between the heart and other organs and tissues.
HEART: The heart beats about 2.5 billion times over the average lifetime, pushing blood to every part of the body. This steady flow carries with it oxygen, fuel, hormones, and a host of other essential molecules, and whisks away the waste products of metabolism. When the heart stops, essential functions fail, some almost instantly. The heart and arteries are in constant communication with all body parts, getting vital feedback from them.
LUNGS: The spongy, blood-vessel-rich tissue of the lungs adds oxygen to the bloodstream, removes carbon dioxide, and filters out small clots and bits of debris. Like heart disease, chronic lung diseases such as emphysema and asthma often have system-wide consequences. They can enlarge the heart's right ventricle, leading to heart failure. People with these conditions often develop high blood pressure and heart rhythm problems. Breathing problems during sleep, especially sleep apnea, can also pose trouble for the heart.
KIDNEYS: The bean-shaped kidneys process about 200 quarts of blood a day, straining out waste products and extra water. They also release erythropoietin, which stimulates the bone marrow to make red blood cells; renin, which helps regulate blood pressure; and calcitriol, the active form of vitamin D, which the bones and the heart both need. The heart and kidneys are tightly linked. Even mild kidney damage increases your chances of having a heart attack or stroke, or dying from one of these. And heart disease may be a warning sign that your kidneys are under siege.
MUSCLES: Active muscles help ward off diabetes, an increasingly common condition that damages the heart and arteries, by keeping blood sugar and insulin levels in check. Working your muscles -- exercising -- helps keep your arteries flexible and your heart healthy and strong.
BRAIN: Communication between the brain and the heart influences the health of both.
EYES: High blood pressure and diabetes can damage vision by narrowing blood vessels in the eye, creating small ballooned-out areas (aneurysms) along blood vessel walls, blocking retinal veins, and creating areas of dead or dying tissue caused by lack of blood flow.
The knee bone's connected to the leg bone ...
If there were such a thing as the heart bone, it would be smack in the middle of each line of the old spiritual, " Dem Bones." Once thought of as a solitary, aloof pump, the heart is now known to affect, and be affected by, all parts of the body.
Some of the connections reflect the widespread impact of artery-clogging atherosclerosis. Others underscore the intimate relationships between body parts. There are myriad connections between the heart and other organs and tissues.
HEART: The heart beats about 2.5 billion times over the average lifetime, pushing blood to every part of the body. This steady flow carries with it oxygen, fuel, hormones, and a host of other essential molecules, and whisks away the waste products of metabolism. When the heart stops, essential functions fail, some almost instantly. The heart and arteries are in constant communication with all body parts, getting vital feedback from them.
LUNGS: The spongy, blood-vessel-rich tissue of the lungs adds oxygen to the bloodstream, removes carbon dioxide, and filters out small clots and bits of debris. Like heart disease, chronic lung diseases such as emphysema and asthma often have system-wide consequences. They can enlarge the heart's right ventricle, leading to heart failure. People with these conditions often develop high blood pressure and heart rhythm problems. Breathing problems during sleep, especially sleep apnea, can also pose trouble for the heart.
KIDNEYS: The bean-shaped kidneys process about 200 quarts of blood a day, straining out waste products and extra water. They also release erythropoietin, which stimulates the bone marrow to make red blood cells; renin, which helps regulate blood pressure; and calcitriol, the active form of vitamin D, which the bones and the heart both need. The heart and kidneys are tightly linked. Even mild kidney damage increases your chances of having a heart attack or stroke, or dying from one of these. And heart disease may be a warning sign that your kidneys are under siege.
MUSCLES: Active muscles help ward off diabetes, an increasingly common condition that damages the heart and arteries, by keeping blood sugar and insulin levels in check. Working your muscles -- exercising -- helps keep your arteries flexible and your heart healthy and strong.
BRAIN: Communication between the brain and the heart influences the health of both.
EYES: High blood pressure and diabetes can damage vision by narrowing blood vessels in the eye, creating small ballooned-out areas (aneurysms) along blood vessel walls, blocking retinal veins, and creating areas of dead or dying tissue caused by lack of blood flow.
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