How vascular health affects our overall health and well-being?

According to vascular surgeon Dr. Kristina Korsakė, a number of scientific studies have looked into how the body’s ageing processes work and what might help slow them down. According to the findings, vascular ageing plays a major role in morbidity and mortality in older people. Blocked blood vessels lead to serious medical incident or diseases such as heart attacks, strokes and others. A number of scientific studies confirm that blockages in blood vessels also have a significant impact on our mental health and on the development of diseases such as dementia, Alzheimer’s disease and others. Blood vessels not only calcify but also dilate, their walls lose elasticity and harden, impairing circulation to muscles and organs and leading to a number of health problems, such as digestive disorders, impaired memory, difficulty in walking longer distances, etc.

Understanding the cellular and functional changes that occur in blood vessels during ageing is important for delaying vascular ageing and preventing age-related vascular pathologies.
Since 1950, when Denham Harman first proposed the free radical theory of ageing, numerous studies have been carrieAt the molecular level, what is referred to as reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a key role. These are chemical compounds containing reactive oxygen atoms such as the superoxide radical (O2–), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and the hydroxyl radical (-OH). Reactive oxygen species are produced in the body during normal cellular processes, but their excess is harmful and leads to cellular ageing, mutations or even death.d out to confirm the importance of oxidative stress in vascular ageing processes. Although oxidative stress can affect many aspects of vascular function, endothelium-derived nitric oxide (NO) is inactivated during ageing due to oxidation of critical proteins. This leads to a decrease in endothelial elasticity, increased vasoconstriction (overactive and too strong vasoconstriction of the blood vessels, resulting in insufficient blood flow) and tissue permeability imbalances.

At the cellular level, mitochondria play a central role in the regulation of ageing processes, including the regulation of lifespan. This two-membrane organoid is the cell’s energy powerhouse, helping the cell to produce the energy needed for normal functioning and playing a key role in metabolism and respiration. If mitochondrial function is impaired, the cell becomes old or dies. Mitochondrial disorders normally lead to chain reactions, where cells weaken and die one by one. As a result, the efficiency of the respiratory chain decreases with ageing.

At the molecular level, what is referred to as reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a key role. These are chemical compounds containing reactive oxygen atoms such as the superoxide radical (O2–), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and the hydroxyl radical (-OH). Reactive oxygen species are produced in the body during normal cellular processes, but their excess is harmful and leads to cellular ageing, mutations or even death.

In particular, the production of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mtROS) is increased in ageing blood vessels, which disrupts the electron transport chain and triggers the cellular ageing or death mechanism. Importantly, mtROS can also be affected pharmacologically. For example, clinical trials have shown that treatment with the mitochondrial antioxidant MitoQ – resveratrol, which effectively reduces mtROS production in endothelial and muscle cells, can significantly reduce the rate of cellular ageing.

The interaction between increased oxidative stress and the activation of inflammatory processes is crucial in ageing blood vessels. There is growing evidence that impaired oxidative stress resistance during ageing also exacerbates vascular inflammation caused by cardiovascular risk factors including obesity, metabolic diseases and hypertension.

The cellular and molecular processes of ageing that affect arteries and capillaries also affect veins and the lymphatic/glymphatic system. In Alzheimer’s disease, for example, the cerebral venous network plays an important role in neuroinflammation.

Contrary to what many people believe, the process of vascular calcification is rarely determined by genetics. It has been scientifically proven that both our life expectancy and our health depend mostly on how we live. Although there are cases of vascular calcification at a young age due to certain genetic diseases, it is largely related to lifestyle, harmful habits (smoking), diet and physical activity. Thus, by adopting a healthy lifestyle, we can delay this phenomenon. For example, studies have shown that professional athletes age healthier than the average person. Several clinical trials that required participants to follow an exercise regime showed that exercise had a profound effect on their physical and emotional well-being.

Many of the molecular mechanisms that activate oxidative stress or chronic vascular inflammation can be controlled by aerobic exercise. This can be explained by changes in glucose and lipid metabolism induced by exercise. Exercise promotes glucose uptake into the muscle independently of insulin release, making sport an excellent non-pharmacological tool to reduce hyperglycaemia in the presence of already developed insulin resistance (as in obesity or type 2 diabetes). Additionally, exercise enhances short-term insulin sensitivity following physical activity, which can be sustained for up to 48 hours in healthy subjects and up to 15 hours in type 2 diabetics, for example after 60 minutes of cycling. The level of physical activity also correlates with plasma triglyceride and HDL cholesterol levels.

Dietary supplementation with substances containing antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, such as vitamin C and vitamin E, may further improve endothelial function and arterial stiffness in older people.

Dr. Kristina Korsakė says that to prevent vascular ageing, it is recommended to give up harmful habits such as smoking and alcohol consumption, or at least to consume them in moderation. Frequent sunbathing or tanning should also be avoided.

Physical activity is also important for vascular health. The European Society of Cardiology guidelines, as well as the American Physical Activity Guidelines, state that at least 150-300 minutes of moderate-intensity or 75-150 minutes of vigorous-intensity physical activity per week is recommended for healthy adults of all age groups. Resistance training, which involves engaging all major muscle groups, is also recommended at least 2 times a week for adults.

Adequate nutrition is also very important. You should only consume as many calories as you burn, so that you can maintain a body mass index (BMI) in the normal range. It is recommended to eat a wide variety of fruit and vegetables, plenty of fish and seafood, choose products made from whole grains rather than processed grains, and to avoid excessive consumption of red meat and processed meat. It is also important to choose healthy sources of protein. Protein should come mainly from plant sources such as beans and nuts, and lean dairy products. It is recommended to limit the intake of foods and beverages high in sugar, and to cook with as little salt as possible (preferably no salt at all). It is also recommended to avoid heated, trans-fatty foods (such as French fries, chips).

Quality sleep and a good sleep routine are essential to maintain health and quality of life. An adult should be getting at least 7-9 hours of sleep per night. The time of going to bed is also important. Failing to go to bed before 11 pm means that the brain may not sufficiently rest and optimally flush out the toxins.

Those who desire to maintain their vitality should also learn to control stress. Movement, deep breathing exercises, meditation, mindfulness meditation techniques, body conditioning (e.g. cold showers for a minute in the morning) can help.

To slow down the ageing of blood vessels and thereby not only extend life but also enhance its quality, it is crucial to undergo preventive tests to evaluate the current condition of blood vessels, even in the absence of symptoms, and to strive to improve their health through following professional guidance. Timely assessment of your vascular condition, knowledge of preventive measures and your own responsible attitude and commitment can lead to incredible results.

Do you want to maintain good health for as long as possible? Experienced vascular surgeon Dr. Kristina Korsakė is available to create a personalised examination plan, professionally summarise your test results, provide valuable recommendations, or prescribe the requisite treatment(s) as needed.

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