Feeling your age? Most of us can relate.

Greying hair and wrinkles tell their own story of passing time. But what does getting older mean for our bodies on the inside - and what impact do the passing years have on our circulation?

While there's no denying that our circulatory systems become less efficient as we age, there's plenty we can do to boost circulation, no matter how many miles are on the clock.

Here, we explore both the effect of ageing on our heart and blood vessels, and what we can do to keep the blood pumping more healthily.

How does our cardiovascular system work?

Our hearts are divided into two chambers, which pump blood around the body in a circulatory system.

The right-side of the heart pumps blood to the lungs, where it absorbs oxygen and releases bodily waste in the form of carbon dioxide.

The oxygen-rich blood is then delivered back to the left-side of the heart, where it's pumped away in large arteries, then smaller blood vessels and tiny capillaries to deliver the oxygen and nutrients our body need to function.

Capillaries also absorb carbon dioxide into the blood, which is then returned to the right-side of the heart in larger veins, to be sent back to the lungs for oxygenation. And so, the process begins again.

How does it change over time?

Even in healthy people, the heart and blood vessels change over time - a natural process that can start surprisingly young. From the age of 20 onwards, gradual, age-related changes that can lead to poor circulation include:

Reduced heart rate
Over time, fibrous tissue and fat deposits impact the body's natural pacemaker system.
Thickening of heart wall and valves
This means the heart fills more slowly, holds less blood and is less responsive to exercise and other demands.
Loss of elasticity in arteries and capillaries
This makes it harder for the heart to pump blood through them efficiently.

And in addition to these natural changes, getting older also puts us more at risk of health conditions that can lead to poor circulation, such as diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure (hypertension) and obesity.

Ageing and circulation - the good news

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