Academician Sergei Boytsov, chief cardiologist at the Russian Ministry of Health, warned that neglecting to treat high blood pressure, diabetes and atherosclerosis could accelerate the aging of the heart.
"The heart is an amazing organ, as it doesn't age for a long time. But it starts to age at a faster rate when we help it happen, instead of preventing high blood pressure and controlling its causative factors."
According to him, high blood pressure often develops in conjunction with metabolic cardiovascular syndrome, a dangerous combination of metabolic disorders and impaired cardiovascular function.
He added: "The second cause of heart aging is diabetes, which also develops in most cases against the background of metabolic syndrome. Diabetes affects both small and large blood vessels."
He pointed out that the third cause of heart aging is the accumulation of atherosclerotic plaques inside the coronary arteries that supply the heart muscle with blood. When these plaques accumulate, oxygen delivery to the heart muscle is impaired, leading to fibrous changes within it.
