Introduction

Dr. Sergei Gilyarevsky, head of the cardiology center at the Russian Geriatric Research Center at Pirogov Medical University, said that for the heart to function properly, the blood vessels must be clean and flexible.

The Impact of Aging and Chronic Diseases

In an interview with the Izvestia newspaper on the occasion of World Heart Disease Day, which falls on July 6, he says: “With age, against the background of chronic diseases and other risk factors, the vessels become more rigid, and atherosclerotic plaques or cholesterol plaques accumulate on their inner walls, which causes blood to flow out of the vessels. There is less blood, which forces the heart to work harder, and sometimes these plaques break down and block a blood vessel, leading to a heart attack or stroke.

Preventive Measures for Heart Health

The specialist points out that in order to improve the condition of the heart and blood vessels and mitigate the changes that occur in them due to aging, it is necessary to carry out preventive measures:

• Bringing body weight back to normal
• Following a diet containing a low percentage of simple carbohydrates and excess calories
• Regular exercise

Benefits of Regular Walking

He says: “It is recommended to walk at least 8,000 steps a day. Scientific studies have shown that allocating 5 minutes of every hour of working time in the office for walking leads to a significant reduction in the risk of high blood glucose levels.”

Additional Preventive Measures

Prevention measures also include:

• Quitting smoking
• Lowering cholesterol and high blood pressure
• Preventing concomitant diseases, especially infections
• Seeing a doctor if symptoms of cardiovascular disease appear

Source

Source: Izvestia newspaper.