![]() Other changes begin to happen, such as an imbalance of elastin and collagen in the middle of the vessels, making them less elastic and supple. A process called angiogenesis that leads to the development or repair of the vessels, slows down with age. Loss of Blood Vessel ElasticityĪll of this means that to keep the blood flowing through the body, blood vessel elasticity is of utmost importance.Īs people age, some of the smooth muscle cells in the various blood vessels die, which means those that remain must work harder. Veins move blood back to the heart as it completes its circle through the body, thus getting its name as the circulatory system. Capillaries also send out white blood cells as a defense against invaders.Īs they continue through the body, capillaries grow thicker and merge to form veins. In the capillaries, fresh blood and waste products are exchanged and moved to various parts of the body. If they did not work, blood pressure would be closer to 120/0 instead of 120/80.Īrteries become smaller further from the heart and branch into capillaries, which are much thinner and web-like. Arteries maintain the minimum needs of blood pressure. When the heart relaxes, it is the job of the arteries to maintain blood pressure and keep it moving forward. This means that arteries need to be elastic to keep expanding and contracting. When blood flows from the heart and is forced into the arteries, they must expand to accept the blood and then contract to squeeze the blood into the veins as the heart relaxes between beats. ![]() The aorta is the largest artery and is connected directly to the heart. ![]() Both arteries and veins have thick muscle layers that surround them and the aorta has cardiac muscle in the walls, as well. All blood in the body flows through these vessels, but they are not all the same. ![]() The three types of blood vessels in the body are arteries, veins and capillaries. Once thought to be just a normal part of aging, these changes are now perceived as having the ability to predict future cardiovascular disease even in those who have no signs of heart or circulatory problems. Researchers have discovered, for instance, that blood vessel elasticity depends on the health of the endothelium–the lining on the inside of the blood vessels. One vital factor in maintaining good cardiovascular health is to stop blood vessel elasticity loss. They now know that change in the function and structure of the heart occurs in every person. In just the past two decades, researchers who study the aging heart and doctors who specialize in the care of the elderly have learned more about keeping the heart and circulatory system healthy than ever before in history. ![]()
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