The respiratory and circulatory systems work together in order to deliver oxygen and nutrients to the cells in our bodies. All of our body cells need oxygen to conduct cellular respiration. The primary responsibility of the respiratory system is to bring oxygen into the body and remove waste gases like carbon dioxide. The respiratory system is made up of the lungs, trachea, bronchi and diaphragm. The main organ is the lungs. In the lungs oxygen is taken into the body and carbon dioxide is released from the body.
The three main parts of the circulatory system are the heart, blood vessels and blood. The heart is about the size of your clenched fist. This muscle contracts and relaxes roughly 70 times a minute at rest or during exercise. The greater the activity or stress level of the body, the faster the heart must beat.
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The brain consumes twenty percent of the body’s oxygen supply. When the brain doesn’t get enough oxygen this deficit can lead to issues such as sleep apnea, poor concentration, forgetfulness, mood swings, restlessness, depressive thoughts and decreased motivation Unlike muscles, your brain cannot store much material to produce energy . It needs a steady flow of nutrients and oxygen to function normally. Oxygen deficiency
can decrease your alertness, memory and judgment. Conditions that will reduce blood oxygen levels include air pollution, smoking, emphysema ,asthma ,chronic stress, sedentary life style and living or traveling to higher elevations. As we age, our capacity to utilize oxygen dramatically declines.
Fatigue has also been reported by several studies as one of the most common symptoms experienced by people. Human cells use the nutrients from food and oxygen to create Adenosine tri-phosphate (ATP), the energy source that fuels cell function. If cells receive too little oxygen, they produce less energy. If cells need more energy, they use more oxygen
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That’s why your breathing rate increases when you exercise.
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A sedentary lifestyle is one of the top risk factors for heart disease. Regular exercise, especially aerobic exercise, has many benefits. It can strengthen your heart and cardiovascular system, improve your circulation and help your body use oxygen better, increase energy levels so you can do more activities without becoming tired or short of breathe, lower blood pressure, improve muscle tone and strength, improve balance and joint flexibility and strengthen bones. It also helps reduce stress, tension, anxiety and depression and improves sleep.
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Cardiovascular or aerobic exercise is steady physical activity that uses large muscle groups. This type of exercise strengthens the heart and lungs and improves the body’s ability to use oxygen. Aerobic exercise has the most benefits for your heart. Over time, aerobic exercise can help decrease your heart rate and blood pressure at rest and improve your breathing.
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Our blood is made primarily of a yellowish colored liquid called plasma. Plasma is ninety percent water and dissolved proteins, vitamins and minerals, like salts. The rest is made up of red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. Red blood cells make the blood red and deliver oxygen to the cells in the body and carry back waste gasses in exchange. The white blood cells are part of your body’s defense against disease and attack any intruders that may invade our body. Platelets are other cells that help the body repair itself after it has been injured. In a single drop of blood, there are about five million red cells, eight thousand white cells and two-hundred fifty thousand platelets. Red blood cells are made in our bone marrow and contain a protein called hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is a protein carried by the red blood cells that contains iron. When the oxygen attaches to the hemoglobin, these blood cells appear bright red.
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Iron is essential to optimal brain function. Iron is necessary in building the proteins of red blood cells and is required for producing energy from food. It is an important factor in every activity the body performs including the ability to hold attention for longer periods of time. Research has shown connections between iron deficiencies and children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
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