Content Sources:
1. Chen Ming, Wang Xiaohong. (2018). Vascular health and prevention and treatment of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Chinese Academic Journal(CD-ROM Edition), 28(2), 18-24.
2. Li Jing, Yang Guang. (2019). Effects of nutrition on vascular health. Modern Preventive Medicine, 46(4), 671-674, 678.
3. Zhang Xiufang, Zhang Jianguo. (2020). Effect of lifestyle interventions on vascular function in patients with hypertension. Chinese Journal of Hypertension, 28(5), 456-460.
In addition to their own careers, the most worrying issue for middle-aged and elderly people is health problems. According to statistics, it is not difficult to find that middle-aged and elderly people have unconsciously become the main target of the disease, and many people in this age group have more or less three highs and many other problems, among which vascular problems have increasingly become the focus.
1. The importance of vascular health
Maintaining the health of your blood vessels is essential for maintaining overall health. The vascular system, including the heart, arteries, veins, and capillaries, is a complex transport system in the body that transports oxygen, nutrients, and removes waste from the body.
First, keeping your blood vessels healthy can help prevent cardiovascular disease. Cardiovascular disease is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, and its occurrence is often closely related to vascular health. For example, damage or inflammation of the lining of blood vessels can lead to atherosclerosis, which underlies many cardiovascular diseases. Through a healthy lifestyle such as proper diet, regular exercise, and quitting smoking and avoiding alcohol, it can effectively prevent blood vessel damage and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Second, vascular health is essential for maintaining normal blood pressure. The elasticity of blood vessels directly affects blood pressure levels. As we age, blood vessels may gradually lose their elasticity, leading to an increase in blood pressure, which increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, and other diseases. Moderate exercise can enhance the elasticity of blood vessels, and a reasonable diet can avoid excessive salt intake, which are all effective means to maintain blood vessel health and control normal blood pressure.
In addition, maintaining the health of your blood vessels can help improve your quality of life. Healthy blood vessels effectively deliver oxygen and nutrients to all parts of the body, ensuring the proper functioning of all systems in the body. In addition, good blood circulation also helps to improve sleep quality, enhance memory and concentration, and make people more energetic in daily life and more efficient in work and study.
2. Why do blood vessels become blocked?
Blockage of blood vessels, also known as blockage of blood vessels, is a medical problem that can lead to serious consequences. It can occur in blood vessels anywhere in the body, including arteries and veins. The causes of vascular blockage are varied, but they can be grouped into three main categories: atherosclerosis, thrombosis, and external compression.
1. Atherosclerosis
Atherosclerosis is one of the most common causes of clogged blood vessels, a phenomenon caused by the accumulation of fat, cholesterol, calcium, and other substances in the lining of blood vessels, which can lead to narrowing of blood flow. This process is not an emergent event, but occurs slowly and can take decades.
The process of atherosclerosis formation can be divided into several stages. Initially, vascular endothelial cells are damaged, which can be caused by factors such as high blood pressure, high blood sugar, smoking, or high cholesterol levels. After endothelial cell damage, cholesterol and white blood cells penetrate into the walls of blood vessels, where they accumulate streak-like plaques.
Over time, these striated plaques attract more lipids, cellular debris, fibrous tissue, and calcium, gradually forming larger plaques. These plaques make the walls of blood vessels stiffer and less prone to bending, affecting the normal function of blood vessels.
One of the most worrying aspects of atherosclerosis is that plaque can rupture, causing blood clots to form and worsen blockages in blood vessels. In addition, larger plaques can completely block blood vessels, leading to tissue or organ ischemia and, in severe cases, tissue death.
2. Thrombus formation
A blood clot is a lump formed by the combination of platelets and fibrin in the blood, and its normal function is to stop bleeding when the body is injured. However, when blood clots form where they shouldn't, or when they form without bleeding, they can block blood flow, causing blood vessels to become clogged.
Thrombosis is often associated with several factors, including slowed blood flow, damage to the walls of blood vessels, and an increased tendency for blood to clot. For example, venous thrombosis occurs mainly in deep veins, especially when traveling for long periods of time or being bedridden, where blood flow slows down due to lack of exercise, increasing the risk of blood clots.
Arterial thrombosis is often associated with atherosclerosis, and the tissue exposed after plaque rupture can trigger platelet aggregation and thrombosis.
3. External Pressure
Another cause of blood vessel blockage is external compression, which is when surrounding tissues, tumors, or other structures put pressure on the blood vessels, causing them to become crushed or deformed. External compression can occur on any type of blood vessel, but veins are the most common.
The growth of the tumour can compress nearby blood vessels, blocking normal blood flow. For example, a thoracic malignancy may compress the superior vena cava, causing swelling and impaired blood flow to the upper extremities and face. In addition to tumors, other conditions such as cysts, enlarged organs, or even deformities of the spine can cause blood vessels to become compressed.
Blockages in blood vessels caused by external compression often require surgery or other treatments to relieve pressure and restore normal blood flow.
3. Physical harm caused by blocked blood vessels
A blockage of a blood vessel, medically known as a blockage of blood vessels, is when blood flow is blocked, preventing normal blood flow from reaching a certain part of the body. This condition can be caused by a variety of causes, including thrombosis, arteriosclerosis, trauma, etc. Blockage of blood vessels can lead to a lack of blood supply, which in turn can affect the function of the affected area and even cause serious health problems.
1. Ischemic injury: Ischemia occurs when the blood supply to one part of the body is reduced, resulting in an insufficient supply of oxygen and nutrients to that area. Long-term or acute blockage of blood vessels can lead to ischemia, which can lead to cell dysfunction and eventually cell death.
If the blockage occurs in the heart, it may cause myocardial infarction; If it occurs in the brain, it can lead to cerebral infarction. Both are extremely serious medical emergencies that require immediate treatment. Long-term ischemia can also lead to chronic damage to the affected tissues, which in turn can affect the function of the tissues.
2. Inflammation and tissue damage: Blockage of blood vessels can trigger an inflammatory response in addition to ischemia. Because when blood flow is blocked, the body tries to remove the blockage through the inflammatory process and restore normal blood flow. However, this process may damage the surrounding healthy cells and tissues. Long-term inflammation can also lead to tissue fibrosis, which is the hardening and thickening of tissues, further affecting function.
3. Increased risk of other health problems: Clogged blood vessels also increase the risk of other health problems. Cardiovascular disease, for example, is closely related to the formation of blood clots in blood vessels. Arteriosclerosis, the gradual thickening and hardening of the lining of the arteries, is a common cause of clogged blood vessels and a significant risk factor for heart disease, high blood pressure and stroke.
In addition, blood vessel blockage can also affect the body's metabolic and endocrine balance, for example, people with abdominal obesity have a higher risk of blood vessel blockage, which is directly related to insulin resistance and the development of type 2 diabetes.