Measurement of arterial aging and arterial stiffness

Arterial aging is associated with increased stiffness of large arteries, known as arterial stiffness. Arterial stiffness is a clinical parameter and reflects the level of arterial aging. Several studies have shown that increased arterial stiffness significantly predicts cardiovascular disease (that is not caused by blood pressure) and other cardiovascular risk factors. Arterial stiffness is mainly related to the patient's age and other conditions such as stress, so increasing arterial age enhances arterial heart events such as heart attack and stroke, which are the most important causes of death in developed countries. An illness in the arteries called Atherosclerosis, is frequently used to describe the aging of the arteries. This disorder is associated with the sedimentation of Low-Density Lipids (LDL) and cholesterol on the inner wall of medium and large-diameter arteries. Studies have shown that although aging is the strongest cause of arterial stiffness, arterial stiffness intensity can be evaluated by a variety of risk factors such as blood pressure, smoking, salt intake, hyperlipidemia, diabetes mellitus, and also inflammatory factors such as Reactive protein C. Also high blood pressure, high heart rate and high creatinine (creatine, like urea, is a toxic substance in the blood that is metabolized in the body and excreted only by the kidneys) level in the blood predicts arterial stiffness. Loss of cell distance is the major functional change that occurs with arterial aging, and this reduction in distance enhance stiffness. Arterial dysfunction in senility is characterized by endothelial dysfunction with a significant decrease in Acetylcholine-induced nitric oxide-dependent vasodilation.

Causes of arterial stiffness

Degradation of elastin (Protein filaments which make tissues flexible) in the middle layer of arteries is one of the important pathological findings of arterial aging. Degradation of elastin is the main reason for the stiffness enhancement of large arteries with age. Various pathways, including inflammatory cytokines (A group of molecules secreted by the immune system in the process of inflammation), adhesion molecules, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs, A group of degrading protein enzymes involved in inflammation and arterial heart disease), and Growth Factor-converting β, are involved in the aging process of major arteries.

Blood pressure and arterial stiffness

Arterial stiffness progression is measured by a change in pulse wave velocity (PWV). This progression is significantly higher in patients with high blood pressure than in patients with normal blood pressure. The mechanism and cause can be explained by increased stress, arterial inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, and activation of the aldosterone renin-angiotensin system, which is characteristic of high blood pressure. Studies have shown that maintaining blood pressure considerably suppresses the development of arterial stiffness and, naturally, arterial heart problems.

The renin-angiotensin system (RAS), also called the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS), is a hormonal system that regulates blood pressure as well as water (fluid) balance in the body. It can also alter the structure of large arteries by altering important compounds such as collagen and elastin.

Normal individuals are people who have no symptoms of coronary heart disease. These people usually have a normal state of the heart and lungs vital indicators. These indicators are affected by variables such as age, sex, height, and genetics. Also, in other classifications, the normal blood pressure is considered between 100-139 over 60-89 mm Hg.