Principle #2: Blood Circulation
The importance of a well-tuned cardiovascular system
Blood Circulation
The previous post, Principle #1: Blood Quality, should be read prior to this post for full context.
Now that we know the major components of a person's life force (i.e. blood) and the primary functions of each component (as much as science can apprehend), let us look at blood as a whole unit - primarily how blood functions within the human cardiovascular system.
The Cardiovascular System
The cardiovascular system is made up of three primary units.
The Heart
Has four chambers
Left Atrium
Left Ventricle
Right Atrium
Right Ventricle
Blood (see previous discussion)
Blood Vessels
Ateries (carry blood away from the heart)
Pulmonary artery (carries deoxygenate blood into the lungs)
Arterioles (sm vessel connecting arteries to capillaries)
Capillaries (exchange nutrients, water, and chemicals with human tissue and organs down to a cellular level)
Venules (connect capillaries with veins)
Veins (carry blood away from the capillaries back to the heart)
Pulmonary veins (carry oxygenated blood from the lungs back to the heart)
Coronary vessels (supply the heart with oxygen)
Hepatic portal vein (transfers nutrients and chemicals from the digestive tract to the liver - but is not connected directly to the heart)
There are two primary types of circulation that exist within the cardiovascular system.
Systemic Circulation (feeds and cleanses the body)
Oxygen rich blood leaves the left ventricle of the heart.
It then travels through the aorta (the largest artery).
The aorta branches into smaller arteries, through arterioles and into the capillaries.
Capillaries exchange blood at the cellular level
leaving nutrients, oxygen, chemicals, and toxins.
taking cellular wastes out of the body
Next the blood exits the capillaries and enters into the venous system through venules.
Eventually the blood returns to the heart through the upper and lower vena cava and enters the right atrium where pulmonary circulation begins.
Pulmonary Circulation (oxygenates the blood)
Oxygen depleted blood exits the systemic circulation when it is pumped back into the right atrium of the heart.
From there the blood is pumped into the right ventricle of the heart, preparing to exit the body.
The right ventricle pumps the blood into the pulmonary artery and then into the lungs.
As the blood travels through the capillaries in the lungs
it releases carbon dioxide (and other chemicals)
and picks up oxygen (and other chemicals).
Re-oxygenated blood travels through the pulmonary veins and enters into the left atrium of the heart.
The blood pumps into the left ventricle and enters back into systemic circulation.
The Significance
Now that we have a basic understanding of the way blood circulates in the human body, let's consider some implications.
Capillaries
Capillaries, the tiniest of all vessels, are the key to cellular nutrition and cellular waste. It is here that blood products are delivered to the cells. It is here that waste products are removed from the cells.
Capillaries are so tiny, that blood cells must form a single file line [1] in order to pass.
Our bodies are made up of cells, our organs are made up of cells, and our tissue is made up of cells; and capillaries are the portal of their life.
Diminished Blood Flow
If blood flow becomes blocked or damaged or diminished, it can cut off the life supply to various portions of your body.
Consider a diabetic who must have their feet amputated. This results from poor circulation (blood flow) to the feet. In addition, they succumb to sores that cannot heal [2].
If blood circulation is not up to God's intended par, there is no way for blood's healing properties (as discussed in Principle #1: Blood Quality) to reach the damaged areas of the body.
It is estimated that 90% of American adults have diminished capillary flow causing chronic symptoms of one kind or another [3].
This Occurs At The Cellular Level.
If one cell does not receive its life saving blood, it will probably not have a big impact on the body. But if the blood flow continues to diminish in that area, the damage will grow.
Cancer never begins as a tumor the size of a baseball. It begins at the cellular level, one cell at a time.
Disease never begins with a rush. It begins affecting one cell at a time until it gets to the stage of causing noticeable symptoms.
Macular Degeneration does not begin with blindness. It begins one cell at a time.
Fill in the blank: ____________ begins one cell at a time.
Conclusion:
When blood flow is restricted to an area (or the quality of the blood is imbalanced), there are consequences.
Cellular nutrition cannot occur at optimal levels;
Cellular wastes cannot exit at optimal levels;
Portions of your body become starved for nutrition;
Portions of your body become toxic dumps;
Your health is affected!
Tying Things Together
It is impossible to consider blood circulation without considering blood quality. You cannot have good health with either component missing.
If your blood flow is good, but your blood quality is bad, your cells will not be supplied with the proper nutrition.
If your blood quality is good, but your blood flow is bad, your cells will not be supplied with the proper nutrition.
The two must work together, and we will be discussing (in the future) how Living Under God's Design will allow for both good blood quality and good blood circulation. But there is a third principle dealing with the life principle of blood: blood cleansing.
Next: Principle #3: Blood Cleansing.
Return To: Biblical Health Study
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Acknowledgments: Most blood research was done at Wikipedia. All else is footnoted below:
[1] http://biology.about.com/od/anatomy/ss/capillary.htm
[2] http://ruralhealth.und.edu/pdf/diabetes.pdf
[3] Sinclair, Russ. Family Health Media, Inc., 1998: The Systemic Health Home Study Course Part 1 Systemic Exercise page 15