Main Presentation: “Understanding Microcirculation In Overcoming Injuries And Disabilities” by Mark DeBrincat, DC

January 27th, 2022 @ 9:00 am PST

Microcirculation is essential to health.  It ensures that oxygen and nutrients get to all parts of the body and takes away unwanted wastes.   Without a healthy vascular system every organ and system in the body suffers.  Clinical interventions rely on a healthy vascular system to deliver molecules to target tissues.   It limits LDL, platelet, leukocyte adherence to blood vessels.  It helps imodulate inflammatory responses and triggers  nitric oxide and houses extracellular superoxide dismutase.  It also houses coagulation regulatory factors.

One measure of micro vessel health is assessed by measuring glycocalyx.  Glycocalyx is the protective fibrous meshwork of carbohydrates that forms a gel lining on the luminal surface of all vascular endothelial cells.  It lines all capillaries that touch each of our trillions of cells.   Glycocalyx plays a significant role in the maintenance of the integrity of tissues.  It plays a role in lung and kidney homeostasis.  It limits LDL, platelet, leukocyte adherence to blood vessels.  It helps modulate inflammatory responses and triggers nitric oxide and houses extracellular superoxide dismutase.  It also houses coagulation regulatory factors.

Disruption of the glycocalyx on the endothelial surface of large blood vessels precedes inflammation and is a conditioning factor for depositing cholesterol in the vascular wall.   Glycocalyx can be damaged by oxidative stress, inflammation, poor diet, disease, stress and aging.    Poor glycocalyx scores are linked to diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, kidney disease, strokes, dementia, septic shock, inflammatory disorders, cancer metastasis and long haul COVID -10 complications.