What is the age of blood vessels? Just like the actual age of a person, blood vessels have a corresponding age. The age of blood vessels actually refers to the functional state of the arteries in the body, especially the large arteries. The number of sudden deaths is increasing year by year, most of which are sudden cardiovascular diseases, and all cardiovascular diseases are caused by vascular dysfunction, vascular subhealth and vascular diseases. Arterial vasculature is known as elastic blood vessel, which has contraction and diastole functions to regulate the perfusion and operation of blood. As age increases, the elasticity of arterial vessels gradually decreases and the stiffness increases, which is called atherosclerosis. The stiffness of the body’s large arteries therefore represents the age of the blood vessels. What is the use of testing the age of blood vessels? The age of blood vessels is not only related to a person’s actual age, but also to genetic background, lifestyle, work environment, and dietary habits. Therefore the vascular age of a person may be higher or lower than the actual age. Higher vascular age reflects higher arterial stiffness and higher risk of cardiovascular disease. Since arterial vessels are located throughout the body in all organs, measuring the age of blood vessels is also an overall assessment of the health status of the whole body. How to self-examine and test? The age of the blood vessels represents the degree of atherosclerosis, which is a slow changing process with no obvious specific symptoms at first. However, you can evaluate your eating habits, whether your diet is mainly meat, whether you lack physical activity in your life, whether you smoke a lot for a long time, and whether you feel psychological stress for a long time according to the triggering factors. If all these factors are present, the vascular age may be higher than normal peers. On the other hand, hyperlipidemia, hypertension and hyperglycemia are the contributing factors and concomitant diseases of atherosclerosis. During the development of atherosclerosis vascular function is disrupted and cannot be contracted and diastolic normally, resulting in tissue and organ ischemia and a decline in systemic functions, which can lead to memory loss, sleep disorders, blurred vision, heartburn and chest tightness, dizziness and tinnitus, cold hands and feet, lower limb tension pain, and mood changes. For people over 40 years old should undergo atherosclerosis testing during physical examinations or at hospitals on a regular basis. This test measures the age of a person’s blood vessels by calculating the pulse wave conduction velocity, and if the measured age of blood vessels is less than the actual age, it means that the blood vessels are in good health, and vice versa, it indicates an increase in the potential risk of cardiovascular disease and the need for early prevention and treatment. How to prevent abnormal increase of blood vessel age? Once atherosclerosis appears it is difficult to make it reverse, but it is possible to stop the rate of its progress and stabilize the condition by consuming vegetable protein (such as soy products), foods rich in vitamin C, foods with high fiber, low salt diet, vegetable oil; and eating less high cholesterol diet, such as bone marrow, fatty meat, offal, seafood, egg yolk, etc. Life should adhere to physical activity, pay attention to weight control, non-smoking, and maintain a happy mood. If you have high blood pressure, high blood lipid and high blood sugar, you should go to the hospital for regular treatment. At present, there are also some Chinese or Western medicines that have a certain effect on the improvement of atherosclerosis, so you can go to the hospital and use the medicine under the guidance of the doctor. The age of blood vessels is closely related to each person, because the aging or early aging of blood vessels occurs unconsciously. Some people feel that they are physically well and never go to the hospital, but wait until they suddenly experience obvious physical discomfort before seeking medical attention, losing the best opportunity for prevention and treatment. I once saw an old man who was a professor of sports and had trained many outstanding athletes, who felt healthy, and although he was 72 years old, he still played soccer with young people from time to time. Suddenly, one day, he came to the clinic with severe “leg stomach” pain during exercise. The atherosclerosis test proved that the arteries in his lower extremities were severely narrowed, and the ultrasound also confirmed that there were many vascular sclerosis spots in his femoral artery. The demand for blood increases when people exercise, and if the blood vessels are narrowed, they cannot meet the demand for blood during exercise, resulting in ischemic pain. When the blood supply improves after resting for a while, the pain can be relieved. So when you exercise or even walk a little more than usual, you feel uncomfortable “leg stomach” and need to rest to relieve, you should consider whether you are suffering from atherosclerosis, the best way is to go to the hospital to check.