Your Body

The Heart

The role of the heart is to pump oxygen-rich blood to every living cell in the body. In order to achieve its goal, it must continuously beat for a person’s entire lifespan. Because of its vital role, a non-beating heart always results in death. The human heart beats approximately 80,000 to 100,000 a day and pumps almost 2,000 gallons of blood. This means that in a person’s life lasting 70 to 90 years, the heart beats approximately two to three billion times and pumps 50 to 65 million gallons of blood. Because the heart is so essential for human sustenance, it is made up of a muscle different from skeletal muscle that allows it to constantly beat.

In order for the heart to deliver oxygenated blood to all cells, blood is pumped through arteries. Veins bring de-oxygenated blood cells to the lungs, which then are oxygenated, and then sent back to heart. In this way, a continuous cycle is formed of the heart pumping oxygenated blood and de-oxygenated blood out to their designated destinations, and therefore the heart maintains the circulatory system

The effects of Fitness has on your Heart

Cardiovascular endurance is the most important aspect of fitness. It is basically how strong your heart is, which can potentially add years to your life. The heart is the most important muscle in the human body and if it is kept healthy then you can avoid numerous health problems. Another reason that cardiovascular endurance is important is because your heart controls the oxygen flow to all your muscles - meaning cardiovascular health has a direct impact on your performance, both endurance and strength wise.

The reason your cardio performance can be improved is because the heart is a muscle, and like all other muscles in the body if you keep working it it will adapt to the workload given. This allows us to have direct control of how healthy one of the most important systems in our body is. But keep in mind there are other factors that effect heart health, such as cholesterol, and blood pressure. Eating right and exercising will ensure that your heart becomes, and remains, healthy throughout your life.

Many people are surprised at how easy it is to improve their cardiovascular endurance. All it takes is 20 minutes of exercise while in your target heart rate, 3 times a week. Although this isn't the most effective way out there, it is a quick convenient way to get into better shape and is definitely perfect for a beginner. Depending on the cardiovascular exercise, it may also improve muscular endurance.

Below is a chart that you can use to find your target heart rate, and a basic exercise program for cardiovascular training.

The Liver

The Liver is location: under your diaphragm, more to the right side of your body. Its function is to get rid of toxins, to regulate your blood sugar levels and to produce bile. Your liver is your largest internal organ. A big blood vessel, called the portal vein, carries nutrient-rich blood from your small intestine directly to your liver.

Functions of the Liver

Hepatic cells make up about 60 percent of your liver tissue. These specialized liver cells carry out more chemical processes than any other group of cells in your body. They change most of the nutrients you consume into forms your body cells can use. They

• Convert sugars, store and release them as needed, thereby regulating your blood sugar level
• Break down fats and produce cholesterol
• Remove ammonia from your body and produce blood proteins, including blood clotting factors
• Detoxify drugs and alcohol
• Produce bile, which breaks down fats in the food your eat
• Remove damaged red blood cells
• Destroy microbes and cell debris

Essential for a healthy Lifestyle

Because your liver fulfills so many vital functions, you would die within 24 hours if it stopped working. A common sign of a damaged liver is jaundice, a yellowness of your eyes and skin. This happens when bilirubin, a yellow breakdown product of your red blood cells, builds up in your blood.

The Effects of Alcohol and other Toxins on the Liver

When you drink alcohol, it is absorbed into the bloodstream from the stomach and intestines. All blood from the stomach and intestines first goes through the liver before circulating around the whole body. So, the highest concentration of alcohol is in the blood flowing through the liver.

Liver cells contain enzymes (chemicals) which process (metabolize) alcohol. The enzymes break down alcohol into other chemicals which in turn are then broken down into water and carbon dioxide. These are then passed out in the urine and from the lungs. The liver cells can process only a certain amount of alcohol per hour. So, if you drink alcohol faster than your liver can deal with it, the level of alcohol in your bloodstream rises.

What are the effects on the body drinking too much alcohol?

Your liver and body can usually cope with drinking a small amount of alcohol. Indeed, drinking a small amount of alcohol (1-2 units per day) may help to prevent heart disease and stroke.

However, drinking over the recommended limits can be harmful. If you drink heavily you have an increased risk of developing:

• Serious liver problems (alcoholic liver disease).
• Some stomach disorders.
• Pancreatitis (severe inflammation of the pancreas).
• Mental health problems, including depression and anxiety.
• Muscle and heart muscle disease.
• High blood pressure.
• Damage to nervous tissue.
• Obesity (alcohol has sugar and has many calories). Also prevents other natural sugars being used as the alcohol sugars are being used.

In the UK, deaths due to alcohol-related diseases (particularly liver disease) have risen considerably over the last 20 years or so. This is because heavy drinking and binge drinking have become more common.