Heart & Circulation, features and articles | Educational Science

Mar 28, 2022

Why do we have different blood types?

The type of blood coursing through your veins is likely different from the blood in your friends and maybe even your family. Knowing your blood type is important for blood transfusions and other medical purposes, which raises a question: Why do humans have different blood types? There are four main...

Apr 6, 2022

A woman would faint whenever she tried to stand. New implant lets her walk.

A rare disease caused a woman to faint every time she sat up or stood. Now, with a new device implanted in her spinal cord, she can stand and walk the length of two and a half football fields with a walker. Researchers recently used the same implanted device to...

Apr 19, 2022

Veins and arteries: Facts about our blood vessels

Veins, arteries and other blood vessels are essential to our body's survival. To deliver blood around the body, a sophisticated circuit of blood vessels provides oxygen, removes waste, and maintains pressure so that the vascular network can operate ceaselessly. Every cell in the human body requires oxygen to produce energy,...

Jul 20, 2022

Man dies from caffeine overdose after drinking equivalent of 200 cups of coffee

A man in the U.K. died from a caffeine overdose after drinking a mixture containing the caffeine equivalent of several hundred cups of coffee, according to news reports. The 29-year-old man, Tom Mansfield, was a personal trainer who had ordered a 100 gram (3.5 oz) bag of caffeine powder to...

Jul 27, 2022

Human heart: Anatomy, function & facts

The human heart is an organ that pumps blood throughout the body via the vessels of the circulatory system, supplying oxygen and nutrients to the tissues and removing carbon dioxide and other wastes. The tissues of the body need a constant supply of nutrition in order to be active, said...

Aug 8, 2022

11 Surprising Facts About the Circulatory System

Introduction (Image credit: Sergey Nivens/Shutterstock)The circulatory system includes the heart, blood vessels and blood, and is vital for fighting diseases and maintaining homeostasis (proper temperature and pH balance). The system's main function is to transport blood, nutrients, gases and hormones to and from the cells throughout the body. Here are...

Aug 31, 2022

Staying hydrated may reduce the risk of heart failure

Staying well hydrated in middle age may lower the risk of developing heart failure later in life, a new study suggests. The study researchers analyzed information from more than 11,000 adults ages 45 to 66 and followed them for 25 years. To examine their hydration levels, the researchers looked at...

Sep 2, 2022

Sweet Therapy: Chocolate May Help Prevent Irregular Heartbeat

Eating chocolate has been linked with a reduced risk of heart disease and stroke, and now a new study from Denmark suggests that regular consumption of the treat may help to prevent the development of atrial fibrillation, a type of irregular heartbeat. Researchers found that adults in the study who...

Sep 2, 2022

Here's What a Single Milkshake Does to Your Blood Vessels

A chocolate milkshake may be bliss for your taste buds, but it's not so good for your blood vessels. A small new study suggests that consuming just a single, high-fat meal or food item, like a milkshake, may lead to unhealthy changes in your blood vessels and red blood cells....

Sep 30, 2022

Why You Should Check Your Blood Pressure in the Morning

ORLANDO, Fla. — People who have high blood pressure are often advised to monitor their blood pressure at home, and now, a new study suggests that blood pressure measured in the morning may be a better predictor of stroke risk than blood pressure measured in the evening. In the study,...

Oct 26, 2022

What is a normal heart rate?

Heart rate is the number of times a person's heart beats per minute (bpm). An average normal heart rate at rest for adults ranges from 60 to 100 bpm, according to the Mayo Clinic. The resting heart rate of an individual will vary depending on their age, body size, heart...

Nov 3, 2022

If blood is red, why do veins look bluish?

It's commonly said that oxygen-rich blood is red, while oxygen-poor blood is blue. But is that really true? In a word, no. Blood is always red. Every molecule of hemoglobin — a protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen — contains four atoms of iron, which reflect red light...

Nov 3, 2022

Can walking lower blood pressure?

Can walking lower blood pressure? We’ve long known walking has many health and wellbeing benefits, including strengthening our bones and muscles and helping us to maintain a healthy weight and lose body fat. It turns out the walking perks don’t stop there. Regular physical activity is associated with lower blood...

Nov 3, 2022

What is normal blood sugar?

Blood sugar, or glucose, is the main source of fuel for our bodies. It powers up our internal organs, muscles and nervous system. Keeping your blood sugar in check is essential to our physical health, wellbeing and energy levels. But what is considered a normal blood glucose level? And what...

Feb 1, 2023

Why are heart attacks more common in winter? A cardiologist explains

Cold weather is a challenge in itself, with travel disruptions, snow and ice making even the simplest tasks take twice as long. But winter also poses a risk to physical health for those who are at a higher risk of heart attack, angina or high blood pressure, because of the...