Under the expert guidance of our Board Certified Vascular Surgeon, Dr. Mark Zuzga, our team of Vein Specialists & Vascular Experts are committed to delivering top-tier outpatient vascular & vein evaluation and treatment throughout the greater Tampa & West Florida surrounding areas. Should you find yourself dealing with leg pain, swelling, ulcers, discoloration, or the appearance of spider and varicose veins, we invite you to request a screening today
Fascinating Facts about the Circulatory System
The circulatory system, also known as the vascular or cardiovascular system, is the complex structure of blood vessels throughout your body. The heart is the system’s primary organ, which sends blood to the rest of the body. The circulatory system is an important cog because it provides oxygen and nutrients to body tissues while simultaneously removing tissue waste. Here are some more fascinating facts about the circulatory system:
Your blood vessels could wrap around the Earth – twice.
If all of your blood vessels were laid out linearly, they would extend 60,000 miles. That’s right: your capillaries, arteries and veins combined are over twice as long as the Earth’s circumference.
Your blood travels cross-country (and back).
The circulatory system is your body’s blood-pumping machine. Blood quickly courses through the body, making its rounds three times in a minute. In a day, your blood travels a total of 12,000 miles. That’s a longer route than driving the entire perimeter of the United States.
Ancient Egyptians studied the circulatory system.
Humans examined the circulatory system all the way back in ancient times. Ancient Egyptians published notes in an Egyptian medical journal called the Ebers Papyrus, which dates back to 16th century BC. In “a treatise on the heart,” the medical document dons the heart as the chief blood-supplying organ.
A broken heart is real.
Traumatic life events like death of a loved one and divorce can actually cause a broken heart. “Broken heart syndrome,” clinically referred to as stress-induced cardiomyopathy, mirrors the symptoms of a heart attack. While not as severe as a heart attack, broken heart syndrome can lead to short-term heart failure.
Your heart pumps enough blood to fill three supertankers.
An average human heart pumps 1 million barrels of blood in a lifetime. To meet this quota, the heart pumps blood at a rate of five liters per minute. And it takes hard work to do so. Your heart, despite its size, is the hardest working muscle in your body.
Your circulatory system is intricate and delicate.
Though strong and efficient, your circulatory system is also quite fragile. Your heart, veins, capillaries and arteries all rely on one another to function properly. If one valve fails, the whole system falls into a funk. Because the circulatory system powers your entire body, it’s important to keep your heart and blood vessels safe from harm. To learn more about your circulatory system and how to keep it healthy, contact West Florida Vein Center at 727-712-3233.