Understanding and measuring Vascular Aging: an important stake for Cardiovascular Health

Vascular aging is an often underestimated phenomenon, yet it represents a crucial factor in the assessment and prevention of cardiovascular disease. As healthcare professionals, it is essential to understand this process and integrate its measurement into clinical practice.

What if we fought against cardiovascular diseases as we fight against cancer

t's the theme of the book written by Dr. Michael V. McConnell, a professor of cardiology from the prestigious Stanford University in the United States. In his book "Fight Heart Disease Like Cancer," published on January 30, 2024, he compares atherosclerotic plaques to a "cancerous tumor" located in the coronary arteries. He shares stories from his family, his patients, and his research to present a modern and effective approach to prevent, detect, and treat heart diseases like cancer to avoid their disastrous consequences.

Deep learning and PPG signals

Deep learning applied to health represents a transformative approach to leveraging large volumes of medical data to improve patient outcomes, streamline healthcare processes, and advance medical research. By utilizing deep neural networks, a subset of artificial intelligence, to analyze complex medical datasets such as electronic health records, medical images, and genomic data, researchers and healthcare professionals can extract valuable insights that were previously inaccessible. Deep learning models can aid in disease diagnosis and prognosis, predict treatment responses, identify patterns and trends in population health data, and even assist in drug discovery and development. Additionally, deep learning algorithms can enhance medical imaging techniques by automating image interpretation, enabling early detection of diseases, and improving the accuracy of diagnoses.

Detecting Type 2 Diabetes (DT2) Using Photoplethysmography (PPG) Signals

Type 2 diabetes is a chronic condition affecting millions worldwide, characterized by high blood sugar levels resulting from the body's inability to effectively use insulin. Early detection of this condition is crucial for timely intervention and management. Recent advancements in medical technology have paved the way for innovative diagnostic approaches, one of which involves the utilization of Photoplethysmography (PPG) signals.

The silent metamorphosis: decoding aging and evolution of arteries

The arterial network of the human body, which extends over almost 100,000 kilometers, plays a vital role in our well-being and health. For healthcare professionals, a thorough understanding of the structure of the arteries, how they change with age, and the impact of disease and behavior on these vessels is essential.

What is blood pressure ?

Over time, the techniques used to analyze arterial pulse and its characteristics have evolved from simple tactile assessment to complex methodologies such as ultrasound and photoplethysmography (PPG). Current understanding of various arterial pulse characteristics is based on the observations and experiences of our ancestors. Scientific advancements continue to lead to significant progress in our knowledge of arterial pulse and its applications in diagnosing atherosclerotic disease and many other therapeutic areas.

The arteries are key to good cardiovascular health.

A study presented at the 2023 Annual Congress of the American Heart Association revealed that the arteries of an indigenous community in the Bolivian Amazon, considered "the healthiest in the world," are exceptionally elastic and age more slowly than those of other populations. Members of this community, the Tsimané or Chimane, have ancestral lifestyles focused on agriculture, fishing, hunting, and gathering seasonal fruits and nuts. They also follow a diet low in fats and processed carbohydrates. This study demonstrates that lifestyle changes can improve arterial health and reduce arterial stiffness, an independent risk factor for cardiovascular diseases.

Pulse Wave Velocity (PWV): Beyond the Framingham Score

The Framingham score is a well-recognized tool for assessing a patient's cardiovascular risk, taking into account factors such as age, gender, blood pressure, cholesterol, and smoking. However, it does not directly consider the structural and functional health of the arteries. For this purpose, the measurement of pulse wave velocity (PWV) offers a crucial complementary perspective, and it is now proven that it allows for earlier and more accurate identification of patients at the highest risk of cardiovascular and neurovascular events.