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.
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.