Author: kmendio2

Lymphatic Vessels: Your Body’s Fluid Highway

4 pictures side by side of 4 stages of upper limb lymphedema. 2 arms of a person extended out in front of them as swelling increases from left (stage 1) to right (stage 4). Taken from Wikimedia Commons.
Lymphedema staging for upper limbs. By DocHealer – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=64120555

Have you ever heard about the lymphatic system that runs through your body? This system consists of organs, tissues and vessels that are important because it helps your immune cells move, helps your body absorb nutrients, and helps keep all the fluids balanced within your body. It is important to understand the way this system works, because when this system is damaged or not working properly it can lead to severe swelling of limbs (lymphedema), buildup of fats within your blood vessels which can eventually heart attacks (atherosclerosis), and even can contribute to cancer (To learn more).

Continue reading “Lymphatic Vessels: Your Body’s Fluid Highway”