Heart2Heart with Madiha

August was a month of transition. Summer mornings may have started later. Nights may have stretched past midnight. Vacations, travel, late-night movies, sleeping in, and unpredictable schedules can make time feel almost irrelevant. Then suddenly, the alarm goes off. School is starting. Work schedules are changing. Morning practices begin. And your body is expected to wake up hours earlier than it has for weeks. Most people think of this as a sleep problem. But there is another system adjusting too. Your heart has a schedule of its own. Your Heart Runs on a Clock Your body contains an internal timing system known as the circadian rhythm. This roughly 24-hour biological clock helps coordinate sleep and wakefulness, body temperature, hormone release, metabolism, and cardiovascular activity. Your heart and blood vessels do not behave exactly the same way at 2 a.m. as they do at 2 p.m. Heart rate, blood pressure, and other cardiovascular processes naturally change throughout the day. Your ...

A long road trip can feel like freedom. The windows are down, your favorite playlist is playing, and the miles keep disappearing behind you. Maybe you are heading to the beach, visiting family, or squeezing in one last summer adventure before August comes to an end. But while your mind may be focused on the destination, your cardiovascular system is paying attention to something else. How long have you been sitting? For hours at a time, your body may remain in almost the exact same position. Your legs are bent, your movement is limited, you may not drink enough water, and the temperature inside the car can fluctuate throughout the journey. A road trip may be relaxing for your mind. Your circulation, however, still has work to do. Your Legs Were Not Designed to Sit Still All Day Your heart pumps blood throughout your body, but circulation does not depend on the heart alone. Your leg muscles play an important role in helping blood return toward the heart. When you walk, your muscles cont...