Cardiac and vascular aging process
We continue to review a scientific article "Biomarkers of aging" by a group of Chinese authors. Understanding physiological structural remodeling and functional changes allows to know more about cardiac aging that includes atria, ventricles, valves, pericardium, the cardiac conduction system, and vasculature. As such, aging in vessels is associated with a decrease in elastic fibers, that are constituted with fractured fibers, calcification and thickening of the arterial wall. These changes create atrial conduction and function disregulation, for example an atrial contraction, leading to hypertension. Another factor is an increased oxidative stress, that results in compensatory hypertrophy and wall thickening. Pericardium changes include increased fibrosis and deposition of pericardial adipose tissue. A dysfunction in each cardiovascular unit results in bradycardia, palpitations, fatigue, and sudden cardiac death. Check an original article by the link!