Circulatory System and Human Performance, Research Paper Example

Introduction

The circulatory system encompasses many functionalities with a variety of purposes to maintain bodily functions and homeostasis. Therefore, this system must be recognized for its many different areas that facilitate the ability to perform different types of physical activities on a regular basis. Therefore, the functionality of the circulatory system is necessary to sustain different types of human activities and subsequent performance in the desired manner. It is believed that when the circulatory system experiences optimal performance, it will enable optimal physical activity in a similar manner.

Objectives

The primary objectives of the following discussion are to address the role of the circulatory system and its functionality in human performance, considering such factors as routine physical activity, exercise, and other considerations that have a lasting impact on human health and wellbeing in different ways. Most importantly, the discussion will evaluate existing literature in this area in order to determine this relationship and its impact on longevity and the human condition.

Literature Review

An article by Banks & Skrinjar (2014) addresses the resilience of human beings and their adjustment to physiological stress due to exercise, using an informative approach. The article explores the impact of an elevation in heart rate as a result of physical activity during exercise, and it is known that many haemodynamic changes occur during this process that contribute to an increase in cardiopulmonary capacity in some patients who exercise on a frequent basis (Banks & Skrinjar, 2014). An article by Noakes (2011) explored the dimensions of anaerobic activity in promoting skeletal muscle activity, noting that the ability to perform physical exercise is regulated in large part by the regulation of different body systems working in conjunction with each other, while also minimizing overload by recognizing that these systems have their limits and capacities that cannot be extended. Therefore, this regulation does not solely involve the cardiovascular system, but may be attributed to a variety of factors that have an impact on the level of physical activity that is performed (Noakes (2011).

An article by Gibala, Little, MacDonald, & Hawley (2012) addresses the significance of different mechanisms, including cardiovascular control, as they support exercise functionality in a coordinated fashion in order to prevent chronic disease and other conditions. The concept of high-intensity interval training (HIT) is introduced as a means of understanding the cardiovascular and physiological responses to these activities in order to identify possible barriers, as well as advantages to this practice as it aims to support human performance through physical activity (Gibala et.al, 2012).

The functionality of the cardiovascular system impacts all areas of human functionality, including cognition, and there is interest in this dimension at the onset of early adulthood and into midlife (Yaffe et.al, 2014). A prospective study of 3,381 adults between the ages of 18-30 and over a 25-year period of follow up determined that exposure to a number of cardiovascular risk factors are likely to contribute to a reduced level of cognition in the mid-life years (Yaffe et.al, 2013). Therefore, these results are likely to influence how healthcare providers address cardiovascular risks in early adulthood, rather than addressing them later in life when it is difficult to overcome any complications that may arise (Yaffe et.al, 2014).

An article by Naejie (2010) examines how changes in altitude impact cardiovascular function, including a possible increase in blood pressure and tachycardia. The body requires several days in which to acclimate to these conditions, and it has been determined that a difference in altitude may have a stressful impact on those persons who have existing cardiovascular concerns that already impact their health in different ways (Naejie, 2010).

A study by Davis et.al (2011) used a randomized controlled trial approach to determine the significance of exercise and its role in executive function in 171 overweight children between the ages of 7 and 11. The study noted that executive function and brain activity were improved with an increase in physical activity, thereby supporting a subsequent increase in cognitive function within this population (Davis et.al, 2011).

An article by Voelcker-Rehage, Godde, & Staudinger (2011) addresses the significance of cardiovascular training and its impact on cognitive functions in an older adult population, using a longitudinal approach. The study examined these activities in 44 adults between the ages of 62-79 and it was determined that at 6 and 12 months, there was an increased level of activity in the visual-spatial network during coordination activity, while the sensorimotor network increased its activity with an increase in cardiovascular training within this patient population (Voelcker-Rehage et.al, 2011).

In older adults, heart rates vary among different groups, depending on the level of physical activity that is taking place (Albinet et.al, 2010). A group of 24 sedentary older males and females between the ages of 65-78 were assigned to stretching or aerobic programs to determine heart rate variability, and the study results indicate that those in the aerobic group experienced significant cardiovascular advantages with respect to the level of physical activity that was performed (Albinet et.al, 2010).

Another study by Fujimoto et.al (2010) addressed the importance of increased cardiovascular activity in formerly sedentary patients over the age of 65, using a subject population of nine participants who completed one year of endurance training. The study indicates that cardiac compliance was minimally affected by this protocol, but that there was an increase in aerobic capacity, left ventricular compliance and remodeling, and arterial function (Fujimoto et.al, 2010).

Finally, a study by Strait & Lakatta (2012) addresses the significance of aging and its impact on heart failure, as this relationship has a tendency to increase as patients grow older and face a number of higher risks that require further evaluation and focus, with heart failure as a primary area of consideration that requires additional consideration for its impact on disease progression and overall quality of life (Strait & Lakatta, 2012).

Viewpoint

The research studies that were examined provide a number of different insights regarding the function of the circulatory system and its overall impact on cardiovascular health. A number of factors contribute to these conditions and require an examination of new perspectives to determine the relationship between circulatory health and human performance. Most importantly, the studies primarily indicate that a number of factors must be addressed that have a lasting impact on human performance throughout the life span. It is imperative that these health-related factors must be taken into consideration in order to determine the best possible approach to manage quality of life and the ability to maintain adequate performance at all ages. Aging is one of the critical factors to consider, as this phenomenon impacts physiological functioning on many levels and has a lasting impact on human performance, particularly as exercise levels are often reduced. Therefore, circulatory and cardiovascular functionality must be taken seriously and must be examined as part of a larger framework to ensure that all persons are able to maximize their human performance throughout all stages of life and across all populations, regardless of risk.

References

Albinet, C. T., Boucard, G., Bouquet, C. A., & Audiffren, M. (2010). Increased heart rate variability and executive performance after aerobic training in the elderly. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 109(4), 617-624.

Banks, L., & Skrinjar, M. J. (2014). Pushing the limits: exercise stress in the healthy human heart. The Journal of physiology, 592(9), 1915-1916.

Davis, C. L., Tomporowski, P. D., McDowell, J. E., Austin, B. P., Miller, P. H., Yanasak, N. E., … & Naglieri, J. A. (2011). Exercise improves executive function and achievement and alters brain activation in overweight children: a randomized, controlled trial. Health Psychology, 30(1), 91.

Fujimoto, N., Prasad, A., Hastings, J. L., Arbab-Zadeh, A., Bhella, P. S., Shibata, S., … & Levine, B. D. (2010). Cardiovascular effects of 1 year of progressive and vigorous exercise training in previously sedentary individuals older than 65 years of age. Circulation, 122(18), 1797-1805.

Gibala, M. J., Little, J. P., MacDonald, M. J., & Hawley, J. A. (2012). Physiological adaptations to low-volume, high-intensity interval training in health and disease. The Journal of physiology, 590(5), 1077-1084.

Naeije, R. (2010). Physiological adaptation of the cardiovascular system to high altitude. Progress in cardiovascular diseases, 52(6), 456-466.

Noakes, T. D. (2011). Time to move beyond a brainless exercise physiology: the evidence for complex regulation of human exercise performance. Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism, 36(1), 23-35.

Strait, J. B., & Lakatta, E. G. (2012). Aging-associated cardiovascular changes and their relationship to heart failure. Heart failure clinics, 8(1), 143-164.-

Voelcker-Rehage, C., Godde, B., & Staudinger, U. M. (2011). Cardiovascular and coordination training differentially improve cognitive performance and neural processing in older adults. Frontiers in human neuroscience, 5, 26.

Yaffe, K., Vittinghoff, E., Pletcher, M. J., Hoang, T., Launer, L., Whitmer, R., … & Sidney, S. (2014). Early Adult to Mid-Life Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Cognitive Function. Circulation, Circulationaha-113.