Please note: This is a companion version & not the original book. Sample Book Insights:#1 The two main conditions that lead to heart attacks and strokes are atherosclerosis, or the development of lumps in the artery wall, and atherosclerotic plaques. These do not just occur in the coronary and carotid arteries, but can also be found in arteries almost anywhere else in the body.#2 The vascular system consists of the heart, arteries, and veins. The heart begins life where an artery and vein merge together, and it pumps blood into the arteries at high pressure. Veins bring blood back to the heart at lower pressure.#3 The circulatory system was a mystery for many centuries. It was believed that the blood left the heart and disappeared into various organs around the body, never to be seen again. But Harvey proved this was not the case.#4 The heart pumps blood through the lungs, where it picks up oxygen and gets rid of carbon dioxide. This means that the blood vessels in the lungs have high levels of carbon dioxide, and are called arteries.