Healthy circulation is the foundation of life and vitality. But, like so many other vital functions, it’s easy to take for granted. After all, your heart works steadily in the background, pumping blood 24/7 to send essential nutrients to cells while washing away toxins. It purifies waste-filled blood with fresh oxygen from your lungs, and sends it back throughout your body… never taking a break.

In this way, your heart more than any other organ can be a source of profound transformation and healing—if you take care of it properly.

But in today’s modern environment, caring for your heart means more than just cutting out the French fries. In fact, research continues to identify specific threats—such as toxins, chronic stress and dangerous viral infections—that can pose severe risks for cardiovascular health and circulation.

Especially when these factors are combined to create a perfect storm.

Cytokine Storm and Cardiorespiratory Damage

As we’re seeing in the data on viral infections, the inflammatory immune response to the virus can cause a rapid increase of immune cell signaling cytokines. The body becomes overwhelmed with inflammation, leading to organ failure, septic shock, and ultimately costing lives.

For this reason, it’s critical to balance your immune response by addressing over-active inflammation, and encourage healthy circulation to stay healthy and prevent the deadly cytokine storm. This is particularly important for people with risk factors including age 60+, existing heart disease or respiratory diseases such as COPD, metabolic disorders, and other conditions.

Excessing Clotting in Lung Virus Cases

More recent and in-depth reports are highlighting the extent of cardiovascular damage that can occur as a direct result of the viral infection. From these reports, one specific feature is increasingly prominent: Circulatory dysfunction, and specifically, excessive blood clotting. This may help explain why the SARS-CoV-2 virus poses such a risk to patients with pre-existing cardiovascular, cardiometabolic and respiratory conditions. In fact, 50% of patients hospitalized with the infection have a pre-existing heart condition. 

Earlier investigations into viral complications show that the virus can cause significant damage to the vascular system—in the large arteries and the microcirculation. One report from the University Hospital Zurich showed inflammation-induced damage to the cells on the inner lining of blood vessels among infected patients.[1] 

Another critical study showed tiny blood clots in the lungs of infected patients.[2] 

Now, new data examining autopsies of lung virus infection cases reveal what some experts consider remarkable findings. Specifically, a new report shows that people who died of viral infections had developed blood clots not only in their lungs, but in almost every organ of the body. [3]

The new findings, published in June in The Lancet journal, EClinicalMedicine, are being touted as “dramatic” by investigators. The researchers had expected to find blood clots in the lungs, but not throughout the entire body. And not to the extent shown. 

Clinically Researched Circulation Support 

From these emerging studies, one thing is clear: The importance of supporting micro-circulatory health—in addition to maintaining a balanced immune response to prevent the deadly cytokine storm. 

More than 30 published clinical studies show that a classical Tibetan Herbal Formula provides powerful circulation and cardiovascular benefits. I rely on this formula frequently in my practice because it offers a wide range of additional therapeutic effects, including immune-balancing, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory benefits. The broad-spectrum actions of this formula come from a combination of unique antioxidant and polyphenol-rich botanicals that provide benefits at the cellular and microcirculatory levels. 

Additional cardio-protective measures including an anti-inflammatory diet and regular cardio exercise help strengthen the heart and vascular system, reduce systemic inflammation, and improve immune function.

As scientists continue to shed light on viral infections and its growing list of complications, researched botanical formulas and ingredients are becoming increasingly important as potential solutions that can support health at the fundamental level.

Sources:

 

• Varga Z, Flammer AJ, Steiger P, et al. Endothelial cell infection and endotheliitis in C-19. Lancet. 2020;395(10234):1417‐1418. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30937-5

• Fogarty H, Townsend L, Ni Cheallaigh C, et al. C19 coagulopathy in Caucasian patients [published online ahead of print, 2020 Apr 24]. Br J Haematol. 2020;10.1111/bjh.16749. doi:10.1111/bjh.16749

• Rapkiewicz A, et al. Megakaryocytes and platelet-fibrin thrombi characterize multi-organ thrombosis at autopsy in C19: A case series. EClinicalMedicine. 1010. 24. 100434. 10.1016/j.eclinm.2020.100434.