Heart Disease ~ HGH Academy

The top number of the blood pressure is called the systolic blood pressure reading. This is a fairly direct reflection of the stiffness of the artery. As collagen is lost and elasticity decreased from aging, the rebound ability of the normal vascular system is compromised. The failure of this recovery system, normally in place to prevent blood pressure from going too high up, leads to a higher systolic pressure and is an indicator of heart disease and strokes. Fortunately, machines are now available to directly measure the degree of arterial stiffness and the result is reported in an Arterial Stiffness Index (ASI). Consult your anti-aging physician for a reading using this if you are concerned in this area. Those with normal blood pressure can have stiffening of the arteries as well, so measuring your ASI is a good practice in addition to maintaining a normal blood pressure.