Credit: iStock As we get older, our cardiovascular system changes dramatically. Specifically, our blood vessels become stiffer and lose some of their ability to relax. This is known as endothelial dysfunction. Scientists debate and propose many theories about the specific causes of endothelial dysfunction with aging. Recently, telomeres have become a hot research topic. Telomeres … Continue reading Small but Mighty: How Telomeres Could Control Vascular Aging
Healthy Blood Vessels
Giving Sugar the Run-around: How Exercise Protects Blood Vessels from Sugary Drinks
Credit: iStock An estimated 70% of people living in the U.S. add too much sugar, about 23 teaspoons, to their diet each day. This is alarming because diets high in added sugar increase the risk for developing chronic conditions such as obesity, type 2 diabetes and heart disease, which is the leading cause of death … Continue reading Giving Sugar the Run-around: How Exercise Protects Blood Vessels from Sugary Drinks
What Blood Vessels Tell Us about Childhood Obesity
Did you know that blood vessels can “talk?” That’s right: Changes in the cells within blood vessels can communicate important information about the overall health of the cardiovascular system. The inside of blood vessels are lined endothelial cells—protective cells that form a tight barrier through which only certain substances such as water or glucose can … Continue reading What Blood Vessels Tell Us about Childhood Obesity
Out of Sight, Out of Mind? Don’t Forget About the ‘Hidden’ Benefits of Exercise
I approached an article in The New York Times titled “To Lose Weight, Eating Less Is Far More Important Than Exercising More” with a bit of trepidation. I don’t disagree with the statement (or the science behind it), but I felt the importance of exercise could be dismissed if the title was misinterpreted. Reading the … Continue reading Out of Sight, Out of Mind? Don’t Forget About the ‘Hidden’ Benefits of Exercise