The heart beats about 2.5 billion times over the average lifetime, pushing millions of gallons of blood to every part of the body. This steady flow carries with it oxygen, fuel, hormones, other compounds, and a host of essential cells. It also cleans up the waste products of metabolism. When the heart stops, essential functions fail, some almost instantly.(1)
Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the number 1 cause of death globally. (2) A key problem is atherosclerosis, where plaque out of cholesterol and other substances narrow arteries, limiting the important blood flow that nourish the heart and the whole body. Elevated blood pressure or high cholesterol levels are indicators for atherosclerosis. A heart attack or stroke is caused when a plaque blocks the arteria.