Optimized blood flow increases life expectancy

December 24, 2019

The circulation of blood is one of the most important functions of the body, and plays a major role in your overall health. Not surprisingly, the main component of this function involves the body’s most significant organ: the heart. Many people underestimate the importance of blood circulation, making lifestyle choices that significantly impede this function, including smoking, leaving blood clots untreated and failing to exercise regularly. Some illnesses may also create circulation problems, such as diabetes and heart disease.

As blood circulation is part of one’s everyday life, it can be difficult to remember its importance. Here is why good blood circulation is vital to your health:

The Benefits of Good Blood Circulation

As stated before, good blood circulation is an integral part of a healthy life. If you maintain a healthy lifestyle and take preventative actions to protect yourself from venous diseases, you will gain the following benefits:

• You’ll maintain healthy blood and oxygen flow throughout the body, allowing your lungs, heart and muscles to function properly and efficiently.
• You’ll fight off and avoid potential diseases and sicknesses. With good circulation, the white blood cells in your immune system will be transported around the body as needed.
• You’ll keep your organs in its best working order. Efficient circulation helps remove waste from the body created by different organs.

The Risks of Poor Blood Circulation

Now that you understand the benefits of having good blood circulation, it is important to identify various risks caused by poor blood circulation. Cutting out unhealthy activities like smoking will help improve your circulation system but it’s important that you meet with a vein specialist to develop a healthy treatment plan.

• You may suffer from lack of energy, excessive tiredness and an inability to concentrate.
• The limited flow of oxygen to the brain may lead to memory glitches.
• For women, one of the most terrifying or embarrassing effects of poor blood circulation is alopecia; or hair loss.
• Because blood circulates white blood cells for healing and platelets for clotting, cuts and sores may take longer to heal, increasing the likelihood of infection.
• In the worst cases, poor circulation may require amputation of the affected limb.

The Key to Longer Life

People with good blood flow to their body’s smallest blood vessels live for longer, scientists found. The link between longevity and “micro-circulation” was uncovered by research into Italian “SuperAgers” with a median age of 92. The body’s microcirculation delivers oxygen and nutrients to cells while removing toxins and waste products. It also controls blood pressure and body temperature by dilating or constricting the capillaries that supply the muscles, organs and skin. Centenarians showed similar levels of a chemical called Bio-ADM that boosts blood flow in the body’s capillary networks as people 30 years their junior.

Genetics, exercise and a Mediterranean diet all play a role in living longer, but scientists have been searching for “biomarkers” that indicate longevity.

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Professor Salvatore Di Somma said:

The La Sapienza University pilot study looked at residents of the Cilento region in the province of Salerno in southern Italy. Women in the region live to an average of 92; eight years more than; the Italian average, while men live to 85, six years longer than average. The first group donsisted of 29 "SuperAgers". The second was made up of 52 relatives with a median age of 60 living in the same household.

These were compared with a group of 194 healthy people with a median age of 64. Scientists found that the SuperAgers' bio-ADM values were as low as those in both younger groups;

Dr Andreas Bergmann, of the German diagnostic company Sphingotec which carried out blood analyses, said: "We are excited about the connection between bio-ADM levels and a good microcirculation as an indicator for good quality of life.

"If bio-ADM proves to be a reliable biomarker for longevity this will open up the avenue to a systematic analysis of the factors contributing to longevity."

Researchers now plan to explore whether elements of the local Mediterranean diet affect bio-ADM levels.