THIS Is As Crucial As BLOOD Pressure For Heart Health - But Do YOU Know About It?
Heart disease: Blood flow is as important as blood pressure, experts warn
BLOOD flow is as important as healthy blood pressure and cholesterol levels in maintaining a healthy heart, experts have revealed.
Blood flow has been branded the ‘third important pillar’ of cardiovascular health that people need to be aware of, but research has revealed few people realise that having smoothly-flowing blood is important.
Fruitflow+ Omega-3 - a tomato supplement - has been proved to show similar effects on blood as 75mg of aspirin.
Aspirin is a common medicine that has a number of uses, from relieving pain to reducing the risk of serious problems such as heart attacks and strokes - as it has an anti platelet effect.
Research commissioned by the Fruitflow has revealed half the population don’t even know their own blood type - 43 per cent of women and 62 per cent of men, which experts believe shows an alarming number of people are ‘ill-informed’ about heart health.
“The significance of a healthy blood flow should not be underestimated,” said Dr Niamh O’Kennedy, research scientist in cardiovascular health, based at University of Aberdeen.
“A healthy cardiovascular system is one with no constrictions in the blood vessels - so no plaque build up due to chronically high cholesterol levels and no compression caused by high blood pressure - and with smoothly flowing blood.
“However, typically, very little thought is given to the blood pumping round people’s bodies.
“This may be because people cannot see or feel it and it isn’t easily monitored.
“They’re only aware that there is something wrong with it when they experience a major health scare - such as a heart attack, stroke, DVT or pulmonary embolism.”
“The research found that a staggering five per cent - nearly 1.5 million Brits believe blood flow is consistent and nothing affects it.
“However experts said there are a surprising number of lifestyle, environmental and hormonal factors that can impact anyone’s blood flow throughout the day - by making their platelets sticky, and their blood harder to pump.”
Blood platelets – cells in the blood stream - stick together in case of injury and stem blood loss.
But they can become sticky which leads to a ‘thickening’ of the blood, adding stress to the circulatory system.
This can be triggered by lifestyle factors, including poor diet, lack of exercise, stress, smoking and drinking alcohol.
However, it can also be affected by pollution and hormones.
Sticky platelets can persist and speed up cardiovascular disease and increase the risk of blood clots.
Dr O’Kennedy added: “You sow the seeds of cardiovascular disease risk as young as your adolescence and twenties, but they lie dormant while your body is in peak condition, able to resist triggers for inflammation and producing lots of nitric oxide.”
Fruitflow®+ Omega-3 is a dietary antiplatelet which means it works to smooth the blood platelets, and so help to protect against their hyperactivity and unwanted blood clots.
The supplement has previously been hailed as a replacement for aspirin finding it was as effective as a single dose of the drug.
Story Credit: http://www.express.co.uk/life-style/health/781871/heart-attack-disease-symptoms-blood-pressure-cholesterol-blood-flow
