CIRCULATION
CARDIOVASCULAR CIRCULATORY SYSTEM
LYMPHATIC SYSTEM
THE CIRCULATORY SYSTEMS OF THE BOSY TRANSPORTS FLUIDS TO AND FROM ORGANS AND TISSUES
WE EXAMINE THE EFFECTS OF POOR CIRCULATION ON THE TWO MAIN CIRCULATORY SYSTEMS IN THE BODY
CIRCULATION EXPLAINED
The primary circulatory system is the Cardiovascular Circulatory System. This system compromises of the heart (cardio) and blood vessels (vascular). The heart pumps blood, while the blood vessels carry blood to the body (via arteries) and return it back to the heart again (via veins) for oxygenation. This process is how the muscles and tissues get the nutrients they need to function (e.g. Oxygen) and how they remove waste products such as Carbon Dioxide.
The arterial blood flow is mainly controlled by pressure difference caused due to the pumping of the heart (blood flows from high to low pressure regions). A drop in this pressure difference would reduce the flow of blood and hence affect the nutrient transfer taking place at organs.
The blood flow is mainly controlled by a pressure difference caused due to the pumping of the heart (blood flows from high to low pressure regions). A drop in this pressure difference would reduce the flow of blood and hence affect the nutrient transfer taking place at organs.
With age and due to conditions, the circulation system of the body is affected and requires external stimulus to restore circulation back to its optimal condition
COMPRESSION AS A SOLUTION
The movement of fluid within the blood vessels and lymph vessels of the body is directly affected by the pressure within these vessels. Further, the fluid is moved from the lower extremities via the skeletal muscle pump action. Hence, when a calf muscle is inactive for prolonged periods of time (e.g. when seated/ standing) the muscle pump is inactive and in turn has an adverse effect on blood circulation.
During these prolonged periods of inactivity an external device could mimic the calf muscle pump when in its active state, and circulation would not be affected.
This is made possible by compressing the calf muscle, thereby causing the vessels to collapse and increase the pressure within them, which would in turn push the fluid within the vessels to their desired location.
