One of the less mentioned side effects of obesity, in addition to diabetes, cholesterol, high blood pressure and inflammation, is the aging process of blood vessels, says Dr Ranjan Shetty, a cardiologist at Sparsh Hospital, Bengaluru (India).
vascular aging is a gradual decline in the structure and function of blood vessels, characterized by hardening of the arteries and reduced elasticity. This increases the risk of cardiovascular disease as we age.
In some cases, degeneration can occur faster than normal age. For example, a 50-year-old person may have a heart that is 10-15 years older than the average, equivalent to a 60-65-year-old person.
However, this aging process can be reversed by changing lifestyle and exercise habits.
Dr. Ranjan Shetty gave an example, a 50-year-old patient of his suffered a heart attack and underwent a pulse- common-vehicle procedure after being obese and sleep apnea.
Previously, this patient did not exercise and was sedentary, causing blood vessels to be damaged by inflammation and changes in blood pressure.
After losing 20 kg within 6 months thanks to regular exercise, Doppler test results showed that muscle atrophy had decreased and the patient's heart functioned much better.
Studies also show that exercise can promote the formation of new blood vessels to improve blood flow thanks to proteins that stimulate growth released from muscles during stress.
Forming an exercise routine
To slow down the aging process of blood vessels, aerobic exercises such as walking and jogging are very effective.
Dr. Shetty encourages patients to start with a 2-minute walk and a 1-minute jog, gradually increasing to 20-minute cardio (walking, cycling, swimming) and 20-minute high-intensity interval training such as burpee and squat.
In addition, a low-carb, low-sugar, and high-fiber, high-protein diet is also very important.
When should you start exercising to prevent vascular aging?
The aging process of blood vessels begins quite early, and affects the layers of the artery walls. Therefore, you should start exercising regularly from the age of 25 to prevent future vascular problems.
How to measure cardiovascular aging
Doppler testing is a useful tool to assess the aging process of blood vessels. Although not recommended unless there is a family history or cardiovascular disease, this test can measure blood flow through arteries in different parts of the body.
Doctors can recognize signs of hardened or narrowed arteries by analyzing the speed and quality of blood flow through high- frequency am thanh.
