Cardio Health The cardiovascular system consists of the heart and blood vessels. Through this system, blood circulates throughout the body. All body organs and tissues need a supply of blood to receive nutrition and to remove waste products. When things go wrong Heart disease is the biggest killer in North America. It manifests itself in a number of ways: atherosclerosis (blocked arteries), angina (pain from insufficient oxygen reaching the heart), arrhythmia (abnormal heart beat rhythms), aneurysms ( swelling of the arterial wall with risk of rupture), high blood pressure, heart attack, and stroke. Cold hands and feet and varicose veins are also circulatory problems. Why things go wrong Lifestyle is a major factor in heart disease. A diet high in fats and low in fiber, lack of exercise, obesity, and smoking all contribute to making heart disease an epidemic in North America. Other risk factors include stress, high homocysteine levels (resulting from B vitamin deficiency), high cholesterol levels, and deficiencies in antioxidant vitamins and minerals. To maintain cardiovascular health Many cardiovascular problems can be eliminated or managed through lifestyle, and this takes us back to the Healthy Cell Concept™ . More specifically, try folic acid (to reduce homocysteine levels); calcium, magnesium, and potassium; the antioxidant vitamins A, C, and E, and beta carotene. Helpful supplements include green tea, coenzyme Q10, fish oil, tocotrienols, garlic, and ginkgo biloba.