Assessing Vascular Elasticity through Heart and Pulse Rhythms

A novel inexpensive diagnostic methodology promises to enhance our understanding of vascular elasticity. This innovative approach leverages the patient's heart and pulse rhythms to assess the flexibility of blood vessels. 

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The elasticity of blood vessels, the ability of their walls to stretch and contract, plays a pivotal role in our cardiovascular health. When blood vessel walls become stiffer, individuals become more sensitive to fluctuations in blood pressure, making them more vulnerable to serious conditions like atherosclerosis and heart disease.

The scientists at Samara University have proposed a more straightforward method for evaluating vascular elasticity. This methodology is based on the analysis of differences between the patient's heart and pulse rhythms.

According to Dr. Alexander Fedotov, an associate professor at the Department of Laser and Biotechnical Systems at Samara University, "Periodic fluctuations in arterial blood pressure, known as Mayer waves, can lead to changes in the elasticity of arterial blood vessels, causing additional variability in pulse frequency. It is this difference that serves as a marker of the vessel walls' ability to stretch."

In simpler terms, the waves of pressure created by the heart can affect the elasticity of blood vessel walls, resulting in variations in pulse frequency. This difference becomes a significant marker for assessing the vessel walls' ability to expand and contract.

The difference between heart and pulse rhythms, known as the pulse deficit, can be determined by separately measuring the heart rhythm using an ECG and the pulse rhythm by feeling arterial pulsations. Comparing these two rates reveals any discrepancies, providing valuable insights into cardiovascular health and identifying potential irregularities.



REFERENCE

Fedotov, A.A. Mathematical Modeling of the Interaction between Arterial Vascular Elasticity and Spectral Differences in Heart and Pulse Rhythms. Biomed Eng 57, 217–223 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10527-023-10301-y




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