Over the course of a lifetime, the heart beats around 2.5 billion times, pumping millions of gallons of blood to every region of the body. This constant flow transports oxygen, fuel, hormones, other substances, and a slew of vital cells. It also transports metabolic waste products. When the heart stops beating, vital functions cease to operate, some practically immediately.
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Although many people get cardiovascular disease (a catch-all phrase for all disorders affecting the heart and blood arteries) as they age, it is not unavoidable. A healthy lifestyle, especially when begun at a young age, can help avoid cardiovascular disease. Lifestyle adjustments and drugs can nip heart-harming tendencies in the bud, such as excessive blood pressure or high cholesterol, before they cause harm. A range of drugs, procedures, and technologies can also assist in maintaining the heart if it is damaged.