The Circulatory System: Our Natural Defense System

Toxins are introduced into our bodies everyday. The organs and systems within our bodies act together to counter the harmful effects these toxins bring. How we maintain our bodies determine how well they can serve us in time of need. One of the body systems that work extra hard to detoxify us is the circulatory system.

The cardiovascular system, or circulatory system, as the name implies, has the main task of delivering needed substances to and from different parts of the body. This system consists of the blood, the heart, and the blood vessels, which are veins, arteries, and capillaries.

The blood serves as the transport medium, whose movement is driven by the thump thumping of the pumping heart chambers. The highways provided by the arteries, which bring oxygen-rich blood from the heart to the other body parts, and the veins, which bring deoxygenated blood from the body parts back to the heart, facilitate the direction of movement of the blood. The tiny blood vessels called capillaries are where oxygen is exchanged for carbon dioxide.

Another essential job that the cardiovascular system performs is maintaining the body’s immunity to pathogens. Pathogens are any organism, may they be viruses, bacteria, fungi, or others, that may invade the body and cause disease. Our blood contains an army of billions of cells that guard us from these pathogens. Within the blood are white blood cells, or leukocytes, platelets, and antibodies. All of them work together to destroy foreign beings that invade the body.

How does the circulatory system help the body with detoxification? Aside from facilitating the exchange of gases to and from the various parts of the body, the blood serves as a transport for wastes as well. Since our cells work 24 hours a day and 7 days a week, there also is a constant outflow of metabolic by-products. These waste materials are carried by to blood to the organs of the excretory system, before we can finally release them out of the body.

The blood is also a transporter of water from the various areas of the body. Water is an essential compound needed in many cellular processes, including detoxification of wastes. Aside from that, the blood helps maintain the body pH by serving as a buffer between the acidic compounds and basic compounds within the body. A drastic change in the body’s pH may compromise many processes, and eventually lead to disease. This is why the need for medication and medical detox processes is recommended.

Though a lot of cardiovascular diseases are congenital, there are ways by which to avoid becoming a victim. One way to keep the circulatory system in tip-top shape is by avoiding excessive alcoholic intake. Alcohol can affect the clotting capabilities and alter the composition of blood. Not only that, alcohol can change the contractions and rhythmic movements of the heart. Foods that are highly acidic can also affect the blood pH, which can cause some medications to be ineffective. Smoking, overeating, and lack of exercise can cause blood vessel damage or changes in blood pressure.