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An Insight into how the
Cardiovascular System
Works and Tips on how to
Maintain Good Cardiac
Health
When in doubt, go to the
hospital or call 911.
Exercise and eating
healthy are the best things
for you to do at home
while seeing a doctor.
Let your doctor know
about any changes in your
health.
Things to Remember
Cardiovascular
System
By:
Jordan
USF Nursing Student
References




How it Works
The cardiovascular system includes the heart
and three passageways including:
Arteries: the blood vessels that take
blood away from the heart to other
organs and extremities.
Veins: the blood vessels that bring
blood into the heart from other organs
and extremities.
Capillaries: the small vessels that
connect the arteries and veins.

The heart takes used blood and via the lungs,
recycles it into blood full of oxygen to send out
to the entire body.

For this system to work properly, the veins,
arteries, capillaries, and the heart itself must be
in perfect shape. For this system to be
successful, the organs must be healthy enough
to accept and use the oxygen from the blood.


Cardiovascular Health
Healthy Cardiac Diet
Key: Cut the Fat and Salt.
An example of food for a day:

Breakfast: Oatmeal, blueberries,
banana, skim milk

Lunch: Low fat plain yogurt,
peach, raw vegetables, Low fat
cream cheese with no sodium
crackers, water to drink

Dinner: Grilled turkey burger with
a whole-grain bun, green beans,
an orange, and sparkling water to
drink
How does a Heart get damaged?
There are many ways for the hearts
function to go wrong because it relies on so
many other things to deliver the blood to
the rest of the body.
Atherosclerosis: hardening of the arteries
which means that they are plugged up and
not letting enough or any blood through to
the rest of the body.
Hypertension: This is high blood pressure.
A normal blood pressure is 120/80,
anything higher than 140/90 for a period of
time is considered to be high blood
pressure. This can damage the insides of
the vessels and cause the heart to have to
work harder to get the blood where it
needs to be.
High Cholesterol: High levels of
cholesterol in your blood can increase the
risk of plaques and atherosclerosis.
High Stress: Can damage the insides of
blood vessels and the heart would have to
work harder to fight it.




The Heart


Five Major Risk Factors
Smoking
Obesity
High Blood Pressure
Abnormal Lipid Values
Sedentary Lifestyle
Lifestyle Change to help
your Heart: Exercise
How it helps
Reduction in body weight
Reduction in blood
pressure
Reduction in bad
cholesterol
Increase in good
cholesterol
How much is enough?
30 minutes of mild to
moderate activity on most
days of the week.
Mild to moderate activity:
o Cycling
o Stair stepping
o Yard Working
o Swimming
o Brisk Walking
Getting out and doing
something is better than
not doing anything!