Every year,September 29 is observed as World Heart Day,
dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of heart health
and preventing cardiovascular diseases.
This year's theme,"Don't Miss a Beat"
highlights the heart’s continuous and steady rhythm.
According to statistics
cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death among both urban and rural residents in China.
Cardiovascular Diseases Rank First!
The good news is that up to 80%of premature deaths from heart disease can be prevented through proactive lifestyle and health measures.
01
330 million people have cardiovascular diseases
According to the China Cardiovascular Health and Disease Report(2023),released by the National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases,there are currently330 million in China living with cardiovascular disease.This includes 13 million stroke cases,11.39 million cases of coronary heart disease,45.3 million cases of peripheral artery disease,and 245 million cases of hypertension,among others.The prevalence of cardiovascular disease in China continues to rise.
Blood vessels are the body’s“lifelines,”delivering oxygen and nutrients to every corner while removing metabolic waste,supporting the body’s normal function and overall health.
The critical threshold for total cholesterol in healthy individuals is 5.18 mmol/L.Exceeding this level can lead to plaque buildup in the blood vessel walls,gradually causing narrowing or even blockage,which increases the risk of cardiovascular disease.
02
Hydrogen-Oxygen vs Cardiovascular Disease
Ischemic heart disease is a leading cause of death from cardiovascular conditions.It occurs when the heart or surrounding blood vessels receive insufficient blood flow,most often due to atherosclerosis or thrombosis.Common forms include coronary heart disease,ischemic cardiomyopathy,and silent(latent)coronary heart disease.
One of the main strategies for preventing and treating ischemic cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases is to restore blood flow to the affected area and surrounding regions,promoting perfusion and supporting functional recovery.Hydrogen has anti-inflammatory,antioxidant,and anti-apoptotic properties[1],showing promising potential as an adjunct therapy for cardiovascular disease.
Studies have found that hydrogen–oxygen inhalation can reduce ischemia–reperfusion injury and may also help prevent atherosclerosis and stabilize arterial plaques[2].
To explore this further,the Key Laboratory of Arteriosclerosis in Universities of Shandong,in collaboration with Taishan Medical University and the Atherosclerosis Research Institute of Taishan Medical University,conducted research on hydrogen–oxygen inhalation in atherosclerosis[3].
The results showed that volunteers who inhaled the hydrogen–oxygen mixture experienced a significant increase in facial blood flow,as observed using a laser speckle real-time blood flow imaging system,illustrated below:
In the image above,the red areas represent abundant blood flow.
Some participants showed a noticeable increase in blood flow on the back of the hand after inhaling hydrogen–oxygen.Several also reported a sensation of warmth,which may reflect improved circulation.
Finger Blood Flow Distribution Map
Short-term inhalation of hydrogen–oxygen gas was found to significantly boost skin blood flow in the face and hands of healthy individuals.These findings suggest that hydrogen–oxygen inhalation could become a novel approach for enhancing local blood circulation,offering new insights into potential strategies for addressing atherosclerosis.
References:[1]Li L,Li X,Zhang Z,Liu L,Zhou Y,Liu F.Protective Mechanism and Clinical Application of Hydrogen in Myocardial Ischemia-reperfusion Injury.Pak J Biol Sci.2020 Jan;23(2):103-112.[2]Song G,Zong C,Zhang Z,et al.Molecular hydrogen stabilizes atherosclerotic plaque in low-density lipoprotein receptor-knockout mice[J].Free Radic Biol Med,2015,87:58-68．[3]Yang et al.The effects of hydrogen-oxygen mixed gas on skin blood flow in healthy adults.Chinese Journal of Arteriosclerosis 2018,Vol 26,No 6.Chin J Arterioscler，Vol 26，No 6，2018.
