Pathways to cardiovascular disease - Part 4: chronic inflammation

In our series of articles, we will go through the life and health factors leading to platelet aggregation, i.e. blood clot formation. Our 4th topic is chronic inflammation.

The three main factors in cardiovascular disease (CVD): high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and platelet aggregation are the three main causes of blood clots. Unfortunately, there are many more factors related to age, lifestyle, and chronic inflammation that can induce platelet activation, which can lead to blood clot formation.

Platelet hyperactivity is associated with conditions such as diabetes and heart disease, or occurs in people living in areas with high air pollution; the increased risk of thrombosis observed in the COVID-19 infection as a result of the listed factors drown the attention to the importance of these issues.

Other factors that can trigger platelet activation that can lead to blood clots include:

• Metabolic diseases are associated with chronic inflammation and platelet activation
• Chronic inflammation associated with infections
• Too much vigorous training, heavy sports
• Smoking / smoggy, polluted air environment
• A lot of tension and stress
• Menopause

Dietary anticoagulants, such as Cardio Fortis Natural Dietary Supplement with Fruitflow® Extract, are suitable for daily use, especially in individuals known to have a higher risk profile for complications from serious infections. Risk factors include being overweight, high blood pressure, high blood sugar, atherosclerosis, and age over 40.¹

Chronic inflammation

Platelets release a plethora of inflammatory mediators that have no known role in hemostasis (the mechanism that causes blood vessels to stop bleeding). Many of these mediators modulate leukocyte and endothelial responses to a variety of inflammatory stimuli.²

Platelets have become crucial coordinators of inflammation through their interactions with monocytes, neutrophils, lymphocytes, and the endothelium. In response to injury or disease, the versatility and reactivity of platelets is extremely beneficial in recruiting leukocytes and triggering an inflammatory response.

However, platelet reactivity also has disadvantages, sometimes generating and maintaining an elevated inflammatory burden that accelerates tissue damage or disease progression, such as in atherosclerosis, diabetes, or inflammatory bowel disease.^{3, 4, 5}

Simply put, chronic inflammation induces platelet activation, and activated platelets release anti-inflammatory mediators that amplify the inflammatory response and thus platelet activation.

All kinds of chronic inflammation can lead to platelet activation, be it arthritis, varicose veins, acute pancreatitis, inflammatory bowel disease, etc.

Another example is the increased immune thrombosis that characterizes severe cases of the disease COVID-19 caused by the SARS-nCoV-2 virus. Severe infections with SARS-nCoV-2 can cause a cytokine storm, a systemic inflammatory response, and immune thrombosis, which can lead to microvascular thrombosis (distributed blood clots in tiny blood vessels).⁶ Anticoagulation therapy is often used for both severe infection and some less severe infections. (e.g. use of acetylsalicylic acid in case of influenza). However, its use has become much more widespread since the emergence of the SARS-nCoV-2 virus, as it can help prevent or delay the spread of the disease from mild to severe by targeting platelet hyperactivity.

Hyperactive platelets, which cause platelet aggregation, can also lead to the development of atherosclerosis - which in turn can cause heart attacks and strokes when atherosclerotic plaques rupture.

For those who have already experienced a cardiovascular event or for whom other CVD risks have been identified, including hypertension, antithrombotic drugs are often recommended as secondary prevention to maintain healthy circulation. While these drugs can often contribute to negative health outcomes - e.g. stomach problems - Cardio Fortis acts as a natural blood thinner and is gentle on the stomach. Thanks to its Fruitflow® ingredient, Cardio Fortis starts working immediately and its benefits are long-lasting, making it ideal for primary prevention. With its powerful ingredients, Cardio Fortis can have a positive effect on the health of the cardiovascular system, improving the lives of many people around the world.

Your heart is important to us: prevention, naturally

Cardio Fortis is a natural dietary supplement for healthy blood flow with Fruitflow® extract, rutin and resveratrol to help maintain normal platelet aggregation, which contributes to healthy blood flow.

Fruitflow® was evaluated by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and in 2009 was awarded the first approved 13.5. Article (proprietary) health claim: "Fruitflow® helps maintain normal platelet aggregation, which contributes to healthy blood flow." ⁷

Cardio Fortis therefore consists of 3 natural ingredients that can contribute to healthy blood circulation and blood vessel health, supporting healthy blood flow. Read more about the product!

For whom is Cardio Fortis recommended?

If you answered yes to any of the questions below, you should take into consideration taking Cardio Fortis on a daily basis.

• Are you over 40?
• Do you live in a smoggy, big city?
• Are you living a stressful life?
• Are you doing too much sedentary work?
• Do you travel a lot by plane?
• Do you engage in strenuous sports activities?
• Have you entered menopause?
• Are you overweight?
• Do you have high cholesterol?
• Do you have diabetes?
• Do you suffer from chronic inflammation?
• Do you have high blood pressure?
• Do you suffer from atherosclerosis?
• Do you suffer from atherothrombosis?

References

1. O’Kennedy, N.; Duttaroy, A.K. Platelet hyperactivity in COVID-19: Can Fruitflow® tomato extract be used as an antiplatelet system?. Med. Hipothesis 2021, 147, 110480 (source)
2. Galloza, J.; Castillo, B.; Micheo, W. Benefits of Exercise in the Older Population. Med. Rehabil. Clin. N. Am. 2017, 28, 659–669. [CrossRef]
3. Sedgwick, M.J.; Thompson, M.; Garnham, J.; Thackray, A.E.; Barrett, L.A.; Powis, M.; Stensel, D.J. Acute high-intensity interval rowing increases thrombin generation in healthy men. J. Appl. Physiol. 2016, 116, 1139–1148. [CrossRef]
4. Nosarev, A.V.; Smagliy, L.V.; Eanfinogenova, Y.; Popov, S.; Kapilevich, L.V. Exercise and NO production: Relevance and implications in the cardiopulmonary system. Cell Dev. Biol. 2015, 2, 73. [CrossRef]
5. Hilberg, T.; Menzel, K.; Gläser, D.; Zimmermann, S.; Gabriel, H.H.W. Exercise intensity: Platelet function and platelet-leukocyte conjugate formation in untrained subjects. Res. 2008, 122, 77–84. [CrossRef] [PubMed]
6. Smith, J.E. Effects of strenuous exercise on haemostasis. J. Sports Med. 2003, 37, 433–435. [CrossRef
7. World Health Organization, ‘Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) fact sheet’, Accessed on: 17th October 2017 [WHO]