Blood vessels are like the “life channel” of the human body, providing blood circulation for various organs to survive. However, when it is working hard, some substances will deposit and form congestion, which will bring a series of harm to the body.
“Life Times” (search for “LT0385” in WeChat to follow) interviews experts, exposes the culprit that blocks blood vessels, and teaches you how to maintain a healthy environment for blood vessels.
Interviewed experts
Qi Wenhang, Chief Physician, Department of Cardiology, Ruijin Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine
Liu Wei, Chief Physician, Department of Cardiology, Beijing Anzhen Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University
Xu Dingli, Chief Physician, Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University
Yu Renwen, director of Beijing Dietitian Association
5 culprits that make blood vessels clogged
Some people in their 20s have blood vessels in their 70s, and fat and harmful substances stick to them, making the blood vessels enter old age early.
1
The sticky “fat”
Cholesterol is a fat-like substance in the blood. The “good cholesterol” high-density lipoprotein has a protective effect on the blood vessels, but the “bad cholesterol” low-density lipoprotein, once excessive, will thicken the blood, and the blood vessel walls will become thicker. Small plaques gradually form, narrowing the vascular channels and blocking blood flow, causing cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases such as coronary heart disease and stroke.
2
Tobacco Chemicals
When smoking, harmful substances such as nicotine, tar, and carbon monoxide in tobacco enter blood vessels through gas exchange between alveoli and blood, interfering with fat metabolism in blood. Passive second-hand smoke also causes similar damage to blood vessels.
3
sweet sugar
Eating too much sugar may increase blood sugar and insulin levels. Over time, it leads to insulin resistance and chronic inflammation, induces atherosclerosis, promotes thrombosis, and increases the risk of stroke.
4
The disordered hormones
Staying up late will disrupt the biological clock and cause the body to secrete too much adrenaline and norepinephrine, which will constrict blood vessels, slow blood flow, and increase viscosity.
5
A variety of bacteria in the mouth
Improper brushing methods and too few brushing times will cause food residues to deposit around the teeth, forming dental plaque and calculus over time. The toxins produced by bacteria can enter the blood circulation and damage the vascular endothelium.
5 kinds of vascular lesions are terrible
Brittle blood vessels, decreased elasticity, blockage and other problems will induce a series of vascular diseases, and may even lead to sudden death in severe cases.
Inflammation
Implicates downstream organs
Vascular inflammation is the damage to the blood vessel wall or surrounding tissue due to chronic inflammation, resulting in abnormal structure of the blood vessel wall, causing bleeding, embolism and other problems, which in turn causes changes in blood supply to downstream organs.
Symptoms
Generally, when the blood vessels are inflamed, there will be symptoms such as fatigue and joint pain. If the skin is involved, nodules, purpura, erythema, etc. may appear, and the color will not fade.
Involvement of feet and ankles may cause edema, which may worsen in the afternoon. Involvement of organs may cause lesions in corresponding organs. If the kidney is involved, hematuria and proteinuria may occur. If the lung is involved, it may cause cough and dyspnea.
spasms
Light dizziness and severe cramps
Vasospasm is a functional state change in which arterial blood vessels are strongly contracted by internal and external factors, resulting in vascular stenosis and reduced blood flow.
Some patients with atherosclerotic plaques themselves, coupled with vasospasm, can easily cause the plaques on the blood vessel walls to be damaged, fall off, form thrombus, block blood vessels, induce myocardial infarction, arrhythmia, and even sudden death.
Symptoms
Mild cerebral vasospasm can show symptoms of focal cerebral ischemia, such as headache, dizziness, limb weakness, numbness, etc.
Cardiovascular spasm can cause precordial discomfort, pain, chest tightness, angina, etc.
Long spots
It is very dangerous to fall off
Like arteriosclerosis, plaque itself is a degenerative disease, and it also appears gradually with age. It is also often associated with atherosclerosis.
Symptoms
Generally, plaques are divided into two categories: stable and unstable:
Stable plaques are severely calcified and hardened, like stones, not easy to fall off, and severe lesions can lead to vascular stenosis;
Unstable plaques are easy to rupture and fall off easily to form thrombus. As blood drifts, it may cause blood vessel blockage and cause ischemia or necrosis of distal tissue.
hardened
Induces various heart and encephalopathy
Blood vessels harden from birth, but according to the normal speed, the pathological characteristics of hardening will not gradually appear until the age of forty or fifty, which is often referred to as atherosclerosis.
Hardening of the arteries can lead to reduced blood flow and easy rupture or blockage. It is related to a series of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. In severe cases, it may cause organ damage, induce stroke, myocardial infarction, and have fatal risks.
Symptoms
Tinnitus, dizziness, headache, sleepinessFatigue, memory loss, sleep disturbance, and even numbness in the limbs can all be warning signs.
Layered
tear-like chest pain
The intima of the aortic vessel wall is ruptured, and blood flows into the middle layer of the arterial wall, which will cause dissection hematoma, and gradually extend and strip the intima and media of the aorta, which is aortic dissection.
It may cause aortic rupture, aortic valve insufficiency, and blood supply disorders to important organs such as the heart and brain. About 80% of patients with acute aortic dissection die of aortic rupture, mostly within 48 hours of onset.
Symptoms
The most typical sign is chest pain. If you feel the pain is tear-like, you have symptoms such as shortness of breath and pale face, you must seek medical attention as soon as possible.
8 kinds of nutrients protect blood vessels
A good blood vessel is inseparable from a healthy diet. Regular intake of the following nutrients can help protect blood vessels:
1
// Carotenoids
It can prevent the oxidation of “bad” cholesterol, protect the integrity of the vascular endothelium, and delay the generation of plaque and vascular lesions.
Main sources:Yellow, green, red fruits and vegetables, such as papaya, mango, tomatoes, pumpkin.
2
// Dietary fiber
Moderate intake of dietary fiber is good for satiety. It can not only combine with bile acid and bile salts in the intestine, but also stimulate the peristalsis of the large intestine, expel cholesterol from the body, and reduce the content of cholesterol in the blood.
Main sources: vegetables and fruits, grains, nuts, beans, etc.
3
// Vitamin B2
It can strengthen lipid metabolism, prevent lipid deposition, protect blood vessels, and also benefit protein, fat and carbohydrate metabolism, promote skin, hair, nail regeneration, prevent angular cheilitis and eye fatigue.
Main sources: animal liver, dark green vegetables, beans, nuts, whole grains, milk products, etc.
4
// Niacin
Niacin not only reduces “bad” cholesterol and triglycerides, but also increases “good” cholesterol levels and promotes cholesterol metabolism.
Main sources: Animal liver, lean pork, poultry, fish, eggs, peanuts, avocados, walnuts, whole grains.
5
// Vitamin C
It can increase the level of “good” cholesterol, promote cholesterol metabolism, inhibit the activation of cholesterol synthase, and reduce the rate of cholesterol synthesis.
Main sources: Fresh fruits and vegetables, such as fresh dates, kiwi fruit, oranges.
6
// Potassium
Moderate intake of potassium can help regulate heartbeat, lower blood pressure, reduce lipid adhesion, prevent blood vessel damage and hardening. It also has the task of controlling bone and muscle activity in the body and preventing abnormalities in the heart muscle.
Main sources: Exist in almost all natural foods, the best sources are fruits and vegetables, potatoes and beans.
7
// calcium
Adequate dietary calcium intake is beneficial for blood pressure control. While limiting sodium intake, increasing dietary calcium intake is most effective in controlling blood pressure.
Main sources: Various dairy products, such as milk, yogurt, cheese, etc., soy products coagulated with gypsum and brine, sesame paste and various nuts, green leafy vegetables with low oxalic acid content, even Bone-eating small fish and shrimp.
8
// Magnesium
Magnesium, as an activator of various enzymes, participates in more than 300 enzymatic reactions in the body, helps to regulate blood lipid metabolism, and reduces the absorption of fat in the intestines.
Main sources: beans, nuts, whole grains and some fruits and vegetables, the darker the green leafy vegetables, the higher the magnesium content.
Finally, I remind everyone that the health of blood vessels is inseparable from exercise. Exercise can promote blood circulation in the whole body, reduce blood viscosity, promote lipid metabolism, improve blood vessel elasticity, and prevent arteriosclerosis. Aerobic exercise such as brisk walking, jogging, mountain climbing, and swimming are all good choices.
In addition, relaxing the spirit is also beneficial to the vascular endothelium, and you should keep an optimistic, open-minded and cheerful mood as much as possible.